¹ Let every soul be subject to higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, but the existing authorities have been ordained by God.

² So that the one resisting authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and the ones opposing will receive judgment to themselves.

³ For the rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the bad. And do you desire not to fear the authority? Do the good, and you will have praise from it;

⁴ for it is a servant of God to you for the good. But if you practice evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to the one practicing evil.

⁵ Because of this, it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also on account of conscience.

⁶ For on this account you also pay taxes, for they are ministers of God, always giving attention to this very thing.

⁷ Then give to all their dues: to the one due tax, the tax; to the one due tribute, the tribute; to the one due fear, the fear; to the one due honor, the honor.

⁸ Do not continue to owe anything, except to love one another. For the one loving the other has fulfilled the law.

⁹ For, "Do not commit adultery," "do not murder," "do not steal," do not bear false witness, "do not lust," Ex. 20:13-15, 17 and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Lev. 19:18

¹⁰ Love does not work evil to the neighbor. Then love is the fulfillment of law.

¹¹ Also this, knowing the time, that it is now the hour for you to be aroused from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.

¹² The night is far gone, and the day has drawn near; then let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the weapons of the light.

¹³ Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in carousings and drunkennesses, not in co-habitation and lustful acts, not in fighting and envy.

¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take thought beforehand for the lusts of the flesh.