1Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, 2so that he who is setting himself against the authority, has resisted against God’s ordinance; and those resisting will receive judgment to themselves. 3For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and do you wish to not be afraid of the authority? Be doing that which is good, and you will have praise from it, 4for it is a servant of God to you for good; and if you may do that which is evil, be fearing, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil. 5For this reason it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience, 6for because of this you also pay tribute; for they are servants of God, on this very thing attending continually; 7render, therefore, to all [their] dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honor, the honor.

8To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other—he has fulfilled law, 9for, “You will not commit adultery, You will not murder, You will not steal, You will not bear false testimony, You will not covet”; and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: “You will love your neighbor as yourself”; 10the love to the neighbor works no ill; the love, therefore, [is] the fullness of law.

11And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already [is] to be aroused out of sleep, for now our salvation [is] nearer than when we believed; 12the night advanced, and the day came near; let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armor of the light; 13as in daytime, let us walk properly; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy; 14but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and take no forethought for the flesh—for desires.