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.

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established 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.

Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon 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 cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

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 a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices 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.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

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

For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to 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 what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

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 nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor 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 this, “ You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

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

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the 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).

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us 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 almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor 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.

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

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 make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.