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[1]Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are ordained by God.
[2]Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will receive judgment on themselves.
[3]For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
[4]For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
[5]Therefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.
[6]For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
[7]Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
[8]Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the Law.
[9]For: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not covet; and if there is any other commandment, all are summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
[10]Love does no evil to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.
[11]And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
[12]The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
[13]Let us walk decently, as in the day, not in carousings and drunkenness, not in cohabitation and licentiousness, not in strife and envy.
[14]But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
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