Romans (The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the )

Let every soul be subject to higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, but the existing authorities have been ordained by God.

So that the [one] resisting authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and the ones opposing will receive judgment to themselves.

For the rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the bad. And do you desire not to fear the authority? Do the good, and you will have praise from it;

for it is a servant of God to you for the good. But if you practice evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to the [one] practicing evil.

For on this account you also pay taxes, for they are ministers of God, always giving attention to this very thing.

Then give to all [their] dues: to the [one due] tax, the tax; to the [one due] tribute, the tribute; to the [one due] fear, the fear; to the [one due] honor, the honor.

Do not continue to owe anything, except to love one another. For the [one] loving the other has fulfilled the law.

For, "Do not commit adultery," "do not murder," "do not steal," do not bear false witness, "do not lust," and if [there is] any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Love does not work evil to the neighbor. Then love [is] the fulfillment of law.

Also this, knowing the time, that [it is] now the hour for you to be aroused from sleep, for now our salvation [is] nearer than when we believed.

The night [is] far gone, and the day has drawn near; then let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the weapons of the light.

Let us walk becomingly, as in [the] day, not in carousings and drunkennesses, not in co-habitation and lustful acts, not in fighting and envy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take thought beforehand for the lusts of the flesh.