Romans 13
1Every person must place themselves under the governing authorities, for there is no authority except by God, and those that exist have been established by God’s arrangement. 2So then, the person who sets themselves against the authority has resisted what God has ordered, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a source of fear for good conduct, but for bad. Do you want to be free from fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will receive its approval. 4For the authority is God’s servant for your benefit. But if you do what is bad, be afraid; for it does not carry the sword without reason. It is God’s servant, an agent of justice to execute wrath on the one who practices what is bad. 5Therefore, it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for the sake of conscience.
6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s public ministers, devoting themselves to this very task. 7Give to everyone what is owed: if tax, then tax; if toll, then toll; if fear, then fear; if honor, then honor.
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves the other has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments—“You shall not commit adultery,”“You shall not murder,”“You shall not steal,”“You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there is—are summed up in this statement: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love works no wrong against a neighbor; therefore, love is the law’s fulfillment.
11And do this, perceiving the specific moment we are in: that the hour has already come for you to be woken from sleep. For now our deliverance is nearer than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is at hand. Let us then lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us live decently as in the light of day, not in wild partying and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the sarx to satisfy its cravings.