RomansChapter 13
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1Everyone must obey the leaders who rule over them. For there is no power to rule except what comes from God. The leaders we have were put in place by God. 2So anyone who fights against the leaders is fighting what God has set up. And those who do this will bring judgment on themselves. 3Rulers do not scare people who do good. They scare people who do bad. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in charge? Then do what is right, and he will praise you. 4For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid. He does not carry the sword for nothing. He is God's servant who brings punishment on the one who does wrong. 5So you must obey the leaders. Do it not just to stay out of trouble, but also because your conscience tells you to. 6This is also why you pay taxes. The leaders are God's servants, and they give their time to their work. 7Give everyone what you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay taxes. If you owe fees, pay fees. If you owe respect, give respect. If you owe honor, give honor. 8Do not owe anything to anyone, except to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has kept the law. 9Think of the commands "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," and "Do not covet." These and any other commands are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no wrong to its neighbor. So love does all that the law asks. 11Do this because you know what time it is. The hour has come for you to wake up from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is almost over. The day is almost here. So let us take off the deeds of darkness like clothes. Let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us live in a proper way, as people do in the daytime. Do not go to wild parties or get drunk. Do not be part of sexual sin or shameless living. Do not fight or be jealous. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ like clothing. Do not make plans to feed the desires of your sinful nature.