Romans, Chapter 13

1. Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but from God: the authorities that exist are appointed by God.    2. Whoever therefore resists the authority, resists the appointment of God: and those who resist shall receive to themselves condemnation.    3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Do you desire then not to fear the authority? Do what is good, and you shall have praise from the same:    4. For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain: for he is the servant of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him who does evil.    5. Therefore you must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake.    6. Because for this reason you pay taxes also: for they are God's servants, attending continually to this very thing.    7. Pay therefore to all their dues: taxes to whom taxes are due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.    8. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.    9. For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.    10. Love does no harm to its neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.    11. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awaken out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.    12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.    13. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in impurity and licentiousness, not in disputing and envying.    14. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.