- 1
- ¶ LET every soul be subject to the sovereign authorities.
For there is no power which is not from God; and those who are in authority are ordained by God.
- 2
- Whoever therefore resists the civil authority, resists the command of God;
and they who resist shall receive judgment to themselves.
- 3
- For judges are not a menace to good works, but to evil.
Now if you wish not to be afraid of authority, then do good, and you will be praised for it.
- 4
- For the ruler is the minister of God to you for good.
But if you do that which is wrong, be afraid; for he is not girded with the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, and an avenger of wrath upon those who commit crime.
- 5
- Wherefore, we must be obedient, not only in fear of wrath, but also for our conscience sake.
- 6
- For, for this reason you pay head tax also;
for they are ministers of God who are in charge of these things.
- 7
- ¶ Render therefore, to every one as is due to him, head tax to him who is in charge of head tax, duty to him who is in charge of taxes;
reverence to whom reverence is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
- 8
- Owe no man anything, but love one another;
for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law,
- 9
- Which says, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet;
and if there is any other commandment, it is fulfilled in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
- 10
- Love does not work evil to his neighbor, because love is the fulfillment of the law.
- 11
- ¶ Know this also, that now is the time and the hour that we should awake from our sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.
- 12
- 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.
- 13
- Let us walk decently, as in the daylight;
not in clamor and drunkenness, not in the practice of immorality, not in envy and strife.
- 14
- But clothe yourselves with our Lord Jesus Christ, and disregard the lusts of the flesh.
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