13:1 Let everyone be supportive of the higher authorities, because there is no authority that isn’t under God; those that exist have been arranged by God.

13:2 That means anyone who plots and schemes against these authorities is violating God’s mandate, and those who do this will be judged.

13:3 The rulers do not terrorize those who do good but only those who do evil. So if you don’t want to live in fear of them, do good and you will have their approval.

13:4 The authorities are God’s servants for your good, but if you do evil, fear them! They carry weapons for good reasons; as God’s servants they carry out his anger to avenge God against those who do evil.

13:5 So it is necessary to be supportive, not only to avoid the anger of God but also as a matter of conscience.

13:6 That is also the reason you pay them taxes; they are God’s relentless public servants.

13:7 So give whatever is due: if it’s taxes then pay them; if it’s tribute then give it; if it’s fear then fear; if honor then honor.

13:8 The only debt you should carry is to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled law.

13:9 For all of this— “You must not commit adultery; you must not murder; you must not steal; you must not commit perjury; you must not desire what belongs to others”— and any other precept you can think of, can be summed up as, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

13:10 Love does no harm to its neighbor; therefore love fulfills the law.

13:11 And do all of this while being aware of the time we live in. It is already time for you to be awakened from sleep, because our rescue is nearer now than when we first believed.

13:12 The night has passed and the day is dawning! So then, let us be rid of acts of darkness and put on the weapons of light.

13:13 Keep pace with the light— not in wild parties and drunkenness, or illicit sex and vice, or rivalry and jealousy—

13:14 but instead clothe yourselves with Master Jesus the Anointed. Make no plans to indulge the desires and wishes of the flesh.