1 Each person must submit to the governing authorities, because no authority {exousia: delegated authority} exists unless it is from God {Theos, Supreme Ordainer}; and the authorities that are present have been appointed by God.
2 So then, whoever resists the authority is opposing what God {Theos, Sovereign Appointer} has ordained, and those who oppose it will receive judgment {krima: divine verdict} upon themselves.
3 For the rulers {arkhontes: civil authorities} do not instill fear in those who live rightly, but in evildoers. Do you wish then not to fear the authority {exousia: governing jurisdiction}? Practice what is good, and you will receive praise from it.
4 For he is a servant of God {Theos, Righteous Delegator} to you for your benefit. But if you do evil, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword without purpose; for he is a servant of God, an avenger {ekdikos: judicial punisher} to bring wrath against the one who practices evil.
5 Therefore, submission is necessary {ananke: binding demand}, not only because of wrath {orge: punishing anger} but also because of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, because they are ministers of God {Theos, Ruler Over Authorities}, devoting themselves {proskarterountes: persistent official service} to this very duty.
7 Give to everyone what is owed {opheilas: rightful obligations}: the tax to the one owed the tax, the custom to the one owed the custom, the fear {phobos: reverent respect} to the one owed the fear, and the honor to the one owed the honor.
8 Do not remain indebted {opheilete: be under obligation} to anyone for anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law {nomos: covenant standard}.
9 All these commands—“You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet {epithymeseis: deeply desire or long for}”—and every other commandment are summed up in one statement: “You shall love your neighbor {plesion: one nearby in community} as yourself.”
10 Love {agape: self-giving commitment} does not work evil {kakon: injurious wrongdoing} against a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, understanding the time: it is already the hour for you to be awakened from sleep; for now our salvation {soteria: final deliverance} is closer than when we believed {episteusamen: first trust}.
12 The night {nyx: present dark age} is nearly past, and the day has drawn near; therefore, let us throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor {hopla: spiritual protection} of light.
13 Let us walk {peripatesomen: conduct our lives} with proper behavior, as in the daytime, not in revelries {komois: drunken celebrations} and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Sanctifying Lord}, and do not make provision for the flesh {sarx: inward tendency} to fulfill its desires.