Romans 13

Let every soul be subject to the authorities placed over. For there is no authority except from God, and those existing have been appointed by God. 2 Therefore, the one resisting the authority has resisted the decree of God, and those resisting will receive judgment on themselves. 3 For the rulers are not a terror to good work but to bad. Do you wish not to fear the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it. 4 For he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s servant who punishes for wrath the one practising what is bad. 5 Therefore, a necessity to be subordinate, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. 6 For for this reason also you fulfil taxes; for they are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay back to all what is owed: tax to whom the tax, tribute to whom the tribute, fear to whom the fear, honour to whom the honour.

8 Owe no one anything except love for one another; for the one loving the other has fulfilled the Law. 9 For the “you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 10 Love does not work wrong to a neighbour; love, then, is fulness of the Law.

Get ready for the coming day of persecution

11 And this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep—for now nearer to us is salvation than when we believed; 12 the night is advanced, the day has drawn near—let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the weapons of light. 13 As in the day let us walk properly, not in revelries and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the flesh do not make forethought/provision for its desires.