1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are appointed by God. 2Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same, 4for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 5Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God's service, attending continually on this very thing. 7Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not give false testimony," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You are to love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does not harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

11Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 12The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let us therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk decently, as in the daytime; not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and lustful acts, and not in dissension and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.