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Romans 13 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

A Christian’s Duties to the State
Rom 13:1

Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.

Rom 13:2

So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

Rom 13:3

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

Rom 13:4

For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.

Rom 13:5

Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.

Rom 13:6

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.[fn]

Rom 13:7

Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

Love, Our Primary Duty
(cf. Mar 12:31; Jas 2:8 )
Rom 13:8

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Rom 13:9

The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal;[fn] do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Rom 13:10

Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

Put On Christ
Rom 13:11

Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you[fn] to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

Rom 13:12

The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Rom 13:13

Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.

Rom 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.

CSB Footnotes
Lit to this very thing
Other mss add do not bear false witness
Other mss read for us
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Romans Chapter 13 — Additional Translations: