Epistula ad Romanos, 13

1. Omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus subdita sit. Non est enim potestas nisi a Deo; quae autem sunt, a Deo ordinatae sunt.

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

2. Itaque, qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit; qui autem resistunt ipsi, sibi damnationem acquirent.

2. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

3. Nam principes non sunt timori bono operi sed malo. Vis autem non timere potestatem? Bonum fac, et habebis laudem ex illa;

3. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

4. Dei enim ministra est tibi in bonum. Si autem malum feceris, time; non enim sine causa gladium portat; Dei enim ministra est, vindex in iram ei, qui malum agit.

4. for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer.

5. Ideo necesse est subditos esse, non solum propter iram sed et propter conscientiam.

5. Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

6. Ideo enim et tributa praestatis; ministri enim Dei sunt in hoc ipsum instantes.

6. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.

7. Reddite omnibus debita: cui tributum tributum, cui vectigal vectigal, cui timorem timorem, cui honorem honorem.

7. Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

8. Nemini quidquam debeatis, nisi ut invicem diligatis: qui enim diligit proximum, legem implevit.

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

9. Nam: Non adulterabis, Non occides, Non furaberis, Non concupisces, et si quod est aliud mandatum, in hoc verbo recapitulatur: Diliges proximum tuum tamquam teipsum.

9. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

10. Dilectio proximo malum non operatur; plenitudo ergo legis est dilectio.

10. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11. Et hoc scientes tempus, quia hora est iam vos de somno surgere; nunc enim propior est nobis salus quam cum credidimus.

11. Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed;

12. Nox processit, dies autem appropiavit. Abiciamus ergo opera tenebrarum et induamur arma lucis.

12. the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;

13. Sicut in die honeste ambulemus: non in comissationibus et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus et impudicitiis, non in contentione et aemulatione;

13. let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.

14. sed induite Dominum Iesum Christum et carnis curam ne feceritis in concupiscentiis.

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