1 L et every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Let 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.

2 T herefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Therefore 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.

3 F or 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.

For 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.

4 F or 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.

For 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.

5 T herefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

Therefore 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.

6 F or because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

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

7 R ender therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Love Your Neighbor

Render 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.

8 O we no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

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

9 F or the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The 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.

10 L ove does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Put on Christ

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

11 A nd 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.

Besides 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).

12 T he 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.

The 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.

13 L et us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

Let 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.

14 B ut put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

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