1. |
Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, |
2. |
so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God's ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment. |
3. |
For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it, |
4. |
for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil. |
5. |
Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience, |
6. |
for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually; |
7. |
render, therefore, to all `their' dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour. |
8. |
To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other -- law he hath fulfilled, |
9. |
for, `Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false testimony, Thou shalt not covet;' and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: `Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;' |
10. |
the love to the neighbor doth work no ill; the love, therefore, `is' the fulness of law. |
11. |
And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already `is' to be aroused out of sleep, for now nearer `is' our salvation than when we did believe; |
12. |
the night did advance, and the day came nigh; let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armour of the light; |
13. |
as in day-time, let us walk becomingly; not in revellings and drunkennesses, not in chamberings and lasciviousnesses, not in strife and emulation; |
14. |
but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the flesh take no forethought -- for desires. |