| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Everyone 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. | 1Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. |
| 2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. | 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. |
| 3For 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. | 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. |
| 4For 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. | 4For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. |
| 5Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. | 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. |
| 6This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. | 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. |
| 7Pay 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. | 7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. |
| 8Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. | 8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. |
| 9The 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.” | 9The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." |
| 10Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. | 10Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. |
| 11And 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. | 11And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. |
| 12The 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. | 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. |
| 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. | 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. |
| 14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. | 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. |
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