1 E very person must obey the leaders of the land. There is no power given but from God, and all leaders are allowed by God.

Sométase toda persona a las autoridades superiores; porque no hay autoridad sino de parte de Dios, y las que hay, por Dios han sido establecidas.

2 T he person who does not obey the leaders of the land is working against what God has done. Anyone who does that will be punished.

De modo que quien se opone a la autoridad, a lo establecido por Dios resiste; y los que resisten, acarrean condenación para sí mismos.

3 T hose who do right do not have to be afraid of the leaders. Those who do wrong are afraid of them. Do you want to be free from fear of them? Then do what is right. You will be respected instead.

Porque los magistrados no están para infundir temor al que hace el bien, sino al malo. ¿Quieres, pues, no temer a la autoridad? Haz lo bueno, y tendrás alabanza de ella;

4 L eaders are God’s servants to help you. If you do wrong, you should be afraid. They have the power to punish you. They work for God. They do what God wants done to those who do wrong.

porque es un servidor de Dios para tu bien. Pero si haces lo malo, teme; porque no en vano lleva la espada, pues es servidor de Dios, vengador para castigar al que practica lo malo.

5 Y ou must obey the leaders of the land, not only to keep from God’s anger, but so your own heart will have peace.

Por lo cual es necesario estarle sometidos, no solamente por razón del castigo, sino también por causa de la conciencia.

6 I t is right for you to pay taxes because the leaders of the land are servants for God who care for these things.

Pues por esto pagáis también los tributos, porque son funcionarios de Dios, dedicados continuamente a esto mismo.

7 P ay taxes to whom taxes are to be paid. Be afraid of those you should fear. Respect those you should respect.

Pagad a todos lo que debéis: al que tributo, tributo; al que impuesto, impuesto; al que respeto, respeto; al que honor, honor.

8 D o not owe anyone anything, but love each other. Whoever loves his neighbor has done what the Law says to do.

No debáis a nadie nada, sino el amaros unos a otros; porque el que ama al prójimo, ha cumplido la ley.

9 T he Law says, “You must not do any sex sin. You must not kill another person. You must not steal. You must not tell a lie about another person. You must not want something someone else has.” The Law also says that these and many other Laws are brought together in one Law, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

Porque lo de: No adulterarás, no matarás, no hurtarás, no dirás falso testimonio, no codiciarás, y cualquier otro mandamiento, en esta máxima se resume: Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.

10 A nyone who loves his neighbor will do no wrong to him. You keep the Law with love.

El amor no hace mal al prójimo; así que la plenitud de la ley es el amor.

11 T here is another reason for doing what is right. You know what time it is. It is time for you to wake up from your sleep. The time when we will be taken up to be with Christ is not as far off as when we first put our trust in Him.

Y esto, dándoos cuenta del momento actual, que es ya hora de levantarnos del sueño; porque ahora la salvación está más cerca de nosotros que cuando creímos.

12 N ight is almost gone. Day is almost here. We must stop doing the sinful things that are done in the dark. We must put on all the things God gives us to fight with for the day.

La noche está avanzada, y se acerca el día. Desechemos, pues, las obras de las tinieblas, y vistámonos las armas de la luz.

13 W e must act all the time as if it were day. Keep away from wild parties and do not be drunk. Keep yourself free from sex sins and bad actions. Do not fight or be jealous.

Andemos como de día, honestamente; no en orgías y borracheras, no en lujurias y lascivias, no en contiendas y envidia,

14 L et every part of you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not allow your weak thoughts to lead you into sinful actions.

sino vestíos del Señor Jesucristo, y no hagáis caso de la carne para satisfacer sus concupiscencias.