1Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God.

2For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves.

3For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise;

4For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God's servant, making God's punishment come on the evil-doer.

5So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right.

6For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God's servant, to take care of such things at all times.

7Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.

8Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law.

9And this, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another's, Do not have desire for what is another's, and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.

10Love does no wrong to his neighbour, so love makes the law complete.

11See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith.

12The night is far gone, and the day is near: so let us put off the works of the dark, arming ourselves with light,

13With right behaviour as in the day; not in pleasure-making and drinking, not in bad company and unclean behaviour, not in fighting and envy.

14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give thought to the flesh to do its desires.