Romans 13Romans13

Berean Standard BibleKing James Version

1. Submission to Authorities

   (1 Peter 2:13–20)

2. 1BSBEveryone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.KJVKJV: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
3. 2BSBConsequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.KJVKJV: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
4. 3BSBFor rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.KJVKJV: For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
5. 4BSBFor he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.KJVKJV: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
6. 5BSBTherefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.KJVKJV: Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
7. 6BSBThis is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.KJVKJV: For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
8. 7BSBPay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.KJVKJV: Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

9. Love Fulfills the Law

   (Leviticus 19:9–18)

10. 8BSBBe indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.KJVKJV: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
11. 9BSBThe commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”KJVKJV: For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
12. 10BSBLove does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.KJVKJV: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

13. The Day Is Near

14. 11BSBAnd do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.KJVKJV: And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
15. 12BSBThe night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.KJVKJV: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
16. 13BSBLet us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.KJVKJV: Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
17. 14BSBInstead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.KJVKJV: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.