Submission to Authorities (1 Peter 2:13–20)
1 WBS Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but from God: the powers that are, are ordained by God. BSB BSB: Everyone 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.
2 WBS Whoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. BSB BSB: Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 WBS 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 from the same: BSB BSB: For 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.
5 WBS Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. BSB BSB: Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.
6 WBS For, for this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. BSB BSB: This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
7 WBS Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due ; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. BSB BSB: Pay 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.
Love Fulfills the Law (Leviticus 19:9–18)
8 WBS Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. BSB BSB: Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9 WBS 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 is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. BSB BSB: The 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.”
10 WBS Love worketh no ill to one's neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. BSB BSB: Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
The Day Is Near 11 WBS And this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. BSB BSB: And 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.
12 WBS 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 armor of light. BSB BSB: The 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.
13 WBS Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. BSB BSB: Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
14 WBS But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the lusts of flesh. BSB BSB: Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.