Romans 13

1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been appointed by God.

2Therefore, the one who resists the authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and those who have opposed it will receive judgment on themselves.

3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. But if you do not want to fear the authority, do what is good, and you will have praise from it.

4For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword for nothing. For it is God’s servant, an avenger for wrath against the one who practices evil.

5Therefore it is necessary to submit, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience,

6For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers, devoting themselves to this very thing.

7Pay to all what is owed: to the one due tax, tax; to the one due revenue, revenue; to the one due fear, fear; to the one due honor, honor.

8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

9For this: “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11And do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.

12The night is far gone; the day has drawn near. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

13Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in revelries and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

14But put on the Lord Jesus the Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh, for its desires.