1Every1person is to be in 2subjection to the governingauthorities. For 3there is noauthorityexcept from God, and those which exist are established by God.
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Thereforewhoeverresistsauthority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receivecondemnation upon themselves.
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For 4rulers are not a cause of fear for goodbehavior, but for evil. Do you want to havenofear of authority? Dowhat is good and you will havepraise from the same;
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for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you dowhat is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an 5avenger who brings wrath on the one who practicesevil.
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Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not onlybecause of wrath, but also6for conscience'sake.
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For because of this you alsopaytaxes, for rulers are servants of God, devotingthemselves to thisverything.
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7Render to allwhat is due them: 8tax to whomtax is due; 9custom to whomcustom; fear to whomfear; honor to whomhonor.
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Owenothing to anyoneexcept to loveoneanother; for 10he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
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For this, "11YOU SHALL NOT COMMITADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is anyothercommandment, it is summed up in thissaying, "12YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
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Lovedoesnowrong to a neighbor; therefore13love is the fulfillment of the law.
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Do this, knowing the time, that it is 14already the hour for you to 15awaken from sleep; for nowsalvation is nearer to us thanwhen we believed.
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16The night is almostgone, and 17the day is near. Therefore let us layaside18the deeds of darkness and put on 19the armor of light.
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Let us 20behaveproperly as in the day, 21not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexualpromiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
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But 22put on the LordJesusChrist, and makenoprovision for the flesh23in regard to its lusts.