Romans 13

1Everyone must submit to the authorities who govern, because no authority exists except by God’s doing, and the authorities that are in place have been put there by God. 2So anyone who sets themselves against the authority is standing against what God has ordered, and those who take that stand will bring judgment on themselves. 3Rulers are not something to fear when you do what is good, only when you do what is wrong. Would you like to have no fear of the one in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval. 4For the ruler is God’s servant, working for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because the ruler does not carry the sword for nothing. The ruler is God’s servant, one who avenges and brings wrath on anyone who does wrong. 5So you must submit, not only to escape wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6This is the reason you also pay taxes: those in authority serve God in a public office, and they give themselves to this very task. 7Pay everyone what you owe them: taxes to the one who collects taxes, customs to the one who collects customs, respect to the one who is owed respect, honor to the one who is owed honor.

8Do not stay in debt to anyone, except for the debt of love you owe one another. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the law. 9Take the commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet”: these, and whatever other commandment there is, are gathered up in this one saying: “You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 10Love does no harm to a neighbor, and so love is what fulfills the law.

11Do this because you know what time it is: it is already time for you to wake up out of sleep. Our salvation is closer now than it was when we first believed. 12The night is almost over; the day is close. So let us take off the deeds that belong to darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us live decently, as people do in the daytime: not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and shameless excess, not in quarrels and envy. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ like clothing, and do not make plans to satisfy the desires of the flesh.