1 Every subject must obey the government-authorities, for no authority exists apart from God; the existing authorities have been constituted by God. 2 Hence anyone who resists authority is opposing the divine order, and the opposition will bring judgment on themselves. 3 Magistrates are no terror to an honest man, though they are to a bad man. If you want to avoid being alarmed at the government-authorities, lead an honest life and you will be commended for it; 4 the magistrate is God's servant for your benefit. But if you do wrong, you may well be alarmed; a magistrate does not wield the power of the sword for nothing, he is God's servant for the infliction of divine vengeance upon evil-doers. 5 You must be obedient, therefore, not only to avoid the divine vengeance but as a matter of conscience, 6 for the same reason as you pay taxes ??since magistrates are God's officers, bent upon the maintenance of order and authority. 7 Pay them all their respective dues, tribute to one, taxes to another, respect to this man, honour to that.
8 Be in debt to no man ??apart from the debt of love one to another. He who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law. 9 You must not commit adultery, you must not kill, you must not steal, you must not covet ??these and any other command are summed up in a single word, You must love your neighbour as yourself.
10 Love never wrongs a neighbour; that is why love is the fulfilment of the law.
11 And then you know what this Crisis means, you know it is high time to waken up; for Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 It is far on in the night, the day is almost here; so let us drop the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of the light; 13 let us live decorously as in the open light of day ??no revelry or bouts of drinking, no debauchery or sensuality, no quarrelling or jealousy. 14 No, put on the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, and never think how to gratify the cravings of the flesh.