| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 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. | 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. |
| 2So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment | 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, 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 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 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 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 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 the authorities, not only because of possible 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 give their full time to governing. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 8Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one 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. |
| 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, "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 a 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 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 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 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 is almost here. So let us put 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. | 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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