1 L et every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,

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 s o that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God's ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment.

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 F or those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it,

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 f or of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.

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 W herefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience,

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 f or because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually;

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

7 r ender, therefore, to all dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour.

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

8 T o no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other -- law he hath fulfilled,

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

9 f or, `Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false testimony, Thou shalt not covet;' and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: `Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;'

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 t he love to the neighbor doth work no ill; the love, therefore, the fulness of law.

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

11 A nd this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already to be aroused out of sleep, for now nearer our salvation than when we did believe;

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 t he night did advance, and the day came nigh; let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armour of the light;

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 s in day-time, let us walk becomingly; not in revellings and drunkennesses, not in chamberings and lasciviousnesses, not in strife and emulation;

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 b ut put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the flesh take no forethought -- for desires.

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