New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Respect for Authority

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

1

Submission to Authorities

Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above [him]. For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God.

2

So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

2

So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who [thus] resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves.

3

For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

3

For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil [one]. Dost thou desire then not to be afraid of the authority? practise [what is] good, and thou shalt have praise from it;

4

The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.

4

for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.

5

So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

5

Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also on account of conscience.

6

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.

6

For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.

7

Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

7

Render to all their dues: to whom tribute [is due], tribute; to whom custom, custom; to whom fear, fear; to whom honour, honour.

8

Love Fulfills God’s Requirements

Owe nothing to anyone — except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

8

Love Fulfills the Law

Owe no one anything, unless to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.

9

For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”a These — and other such commandments — are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”b

9

For, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not lust; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

10

Love works no ill to its neighbour; love therefore [is the] whole law.

11

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

11

Clothe Yourselves with Christ

This also, knowing the time, that it is already time that *we* should be aroused out of sleep; for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

12

The night is far spent, and the day is near; let us cast away therefore the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13

Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.

13

As in the day, let us walk becomingly; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and lasciviousness, not in strife and emulation.

14

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take forethought for the flesh to [fulfil its] lusts.

Parallel

New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Romans 13

Romans 13