Romans, 13

1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

1. Let everyone be subject to the authorities. For there is no authority that does not come from God, and the offices have been established by God.

2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

2. Whoever, therefore, resists authority goes against a decree of God, and those who resist deserve to be condemned.

3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

3. In fact, who fears authority? Not those who do good, but those who do evil. Do you want to be without fear of a person in authority? Do good and you will receive praise.

4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.

4. They are the stewards of God for your good. But if you do not behave, fear them for they do not carry arms in vain; they are at the service of God when they judge and punish wrongdoers.

5. Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

5. It is necessary to obey, not through fear but as a matter of conscience.

6. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

6. In the same way you must pay taxes, and the collectors are God's officials.

7. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

7. Pay to all what is due them; to whomever you owe contributions, make a contribution; to whom taxes are due, pay taxes; to whom respect is due, give respect; to whom honor is due, give honor.

8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

8. Do not be in debt to anyone. Let this be the only debt of one to another: Love. The one who loves his or her neighbor fulfilled the Law.

9. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

9. For the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not covet and whatever else are summarized in this one: You will love your neighbor as yourself.

10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.

10. Love cannot do the neighbor any harm; so love fulfills the whole Law.

11. And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.

11. You know what hour it is. This is the time to awake, for our salvation is now nearer than when we first believed;

12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

12. the night is almost over and day is at hand. Let us discard, therefore, everything that belongs to darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

13. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

13. As we live in the full light of day, let us behave with decency; no banquets with drunkenness, no prostitution or vices, no fighting or jealousy.

14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

14. Put on, rather, the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be led by the will of the flesh nor follow its desires.