1 L et every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist do so by God’s appointment.

Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above. For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God.

2 T herefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves.

So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves.

3 F or civil authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.

For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil. Dost thou desire then not to be afraid of the authority? practise good, and thou shalt have praise from it;

4 F or he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.

for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.

5 T herefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.

Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also on account of conscience.

6 F or this same reason you pay taxes, for are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service.

For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.

7 R ender to all men their dues. taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

Render to all their dues: to whom tribute, tribute; to whom custom, custom; to whom fear, fear; to whom honour, honour.

8 K eep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.

Owe no one anything, unless to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.

9 T he commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

For, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not lust; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 L ove does no wrong to one’s neighbor. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.

Love works no ill to its neighbour; love therefore whole law.

11 B esides this you know what hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).

This also, knowing the time, that it is already time that we should be aroused out of sleep; for now our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 T he night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

The night is far spent, and the day is near; let us cast away therefore the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 L et us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.

As in the day, let us walk becomingly; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and lasciviousness, not in strife and emulation.

14 B ut clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for the flesh to desires (lusts).

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take forethought for the flesh to lusts.