1 T ODA alma se someta á las potestades superiores; porque no hay potestad sino de Dios; y las que son, de Dios son ordenadas.

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

2 A si que, el que se opone á la potestad, á la ordenación de Dios resiste: y los que resisten, ellos mismos ganan condenación para sí.

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

3 P orque los magistrados no son para temor al que bien hace, sino al malo. ¿Quieres pues no temer la potestad? haz lo bueno, y tendrás alabanza de ella;

Those 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.

4 P orque es ministro de Dios para tu bien. Mas si hicieres lo malo, teme: porque no en vano lleva el cuchillo; porque es ministro de Dios, vengador para castigo al que hace lo malo.

Leaders 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.

5 P or lo cual es necesario que le estéis sujetos, no solamente por la ira, mas aun por la conciencia.

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

6 P orque por esto pagáis también los tributos; porque son ministros de Dios que sirven á esto mismo.

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

7 P agad á todos lo que debéis: al que tributo, tributo; al que pecho, pecho; al que temor, temor; al que honra, honra.

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

8 N o debáis á nadie nada, sino amaros unos á otros; porque el que ama al prójimo, cumplió la ley.

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

9 P orque: No adulterarás; no matarás; no hurtarás; no dirás falso testimonio; no codiciarás: y si hay algún otro mandamiento, en esta sentencia se comprende sumariamente: Amarás á tu prójimo como á ti mismo.

The 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.”

10 L a caridad no hace mal al prójimo: así que, el cumplimento de la ley es la caridad.

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

11 Y esto, conociendo el tiempo, que es ya hora de levantarnos del sueño; porque ahora nos está más cerca nuestra salud que cuando creímos.

There 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.

12 L a noche ha pasado, y ha llegado el día: echemos, pues, las obras de las tinieblas, y vistámonos las armas de luz,

Night 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.

13 A ndemos como de día, honestamente: no en glotonerías y borracheras, no en lechos y disoluciones, no en pedencias y envidia:

We 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.

14 M as vestíos del Señor Jesucristo, y no hagáis caso de la carne en sus deseos.

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