| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God's appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. | 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. |
| 2So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment | 2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. |
| 3(for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, | 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. |
| 4for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God's servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. | 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. |
| 5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. | 5Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. |
| 6For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing. | 6This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. |
| 7Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. | 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. |
| 8Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. | 8Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. |
| 9For the commandments, "Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet," (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, "Love your neighbor as yourself." | 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.” |
| 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. | 10Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. |
| 11And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. | 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. |
| 12The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light. | 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. |
| 13Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord 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, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires. | 14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. |
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