Paul's Letter to the Romans (WEB)
13: 1Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from
God, and those who be are ordained by God. 13:2Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands
the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 13:3For 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, 13:4for 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 minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 13:5Therefore you need to be in
subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 13:6For this reason you also
pay taxes, for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually on this very thing. 13:7Give
therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs;
respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor. 13:8Owe no one anything, except to love one
another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9For the commandments, "You shall
not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false
testimony," "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." 13:10Love doesn't harm his
neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. 13:11This, knowing the time, that it is already
time for you to awake out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.
13:12The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let's therefore throw off the works of darkness, and
let's put on the armor of light. 13:13Let 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. 13:14But put
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.