¹Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities , for there is no authority except from God , and those who exist are ordained by God .

²Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God ; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgement.

³For rulers are not a terror to the good work , but to the evil . Do you desire to have no fear of the authority ? Do that which is good , and you will have praise from the authority ,

⁴for he is a servant of God to you for good . But if you do that which is evil , be afraid , for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain ; for he is a servant of God , an avenger for wrath to him who does evil .

⁵Therefore you need to be in subjection , not only because of the wrath , but also for conscience ’ sake .

⁶For this reason you also pay taxes , for they are servants of God ’s service, continually doing this very thing .

⁷Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes , pay taxes ; if customs , then customs ; if respect , then respect ; if honour , then honour .

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

⁹For the commandments , “You shall not commit adultery ,” “You shall not murder ,” “You shall not steal ,” “You shall not covet ,” and whatever other commandments there are , are all summed up in this saying , namely , “You shall love your neighbour as yourself .”[#13:9 TR adds “You shall not give false testimony,”; #Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21; #Leviticus 19:18]

¹⁰Love doesn’t harm a neighbour . Love therefore is the fulfilment of the law .

¹¹Do this , knowing the time , that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep , for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed .

¹²The night is far gone , and the day is near . Let ’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness , and let ’s put on the armour of light .

¹³Let ’s walk properly , as in the day ; not in revelling and drunkenness , not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy .

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