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.

Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

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.

Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.

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.

For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,

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.

for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

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.

Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

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.

For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.

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

Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

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

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

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.”

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

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

Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

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.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.

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.

The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.

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.

Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

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.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.