1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority, 4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing. 7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light. 13 Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

1 政府的权柄， 人人都应当服从。因为没有一样权柄不是从 神来的； 掌权的都是 神设立的。

2 所以抗拒掌权的， 就是反对 神所设立的； 反对的人必自招刑罚。

3 执政的不是要使行善的惧怕， 而是要使作恶的惧怕。你想不怕掌权的吗？只要行善， 就会得到称赞；

4 因为他是 神的仆役， 是对你有益的。但如果你作恶， 就应当惧怕； 因为他佩剑， 不是没有作用的。他是 神的仆役， 是向作恶的人施行刑罚的。

5 所以你们必须服从， 不但是为了刑罚， 也是因为良心的缘故。

6 因此， 你们也当纳税， 因为他们是 神的差役， 专责处理这事的。

7 你们要向各人清还所欠的； 应当纳税的， 就要给他纳税； 应当进贡的， 就给他进贡； 应当敬畏的， 就敬畏他； 应当尊敬的， 就尊敬他。

8 不要欠人的债； 但在彼此相爱的事上， 要觉得是欠了人的债。爱别人的， 就成全了律法。

9 那"不可奸淫， 不可杀人， 不可偷盗， 不可贪心"等等的诫命， 都包括在"爱人如己"这一句话里面了。

10 爱是不加害于人的， 所以爱是成全律法的。

11 还有， 你们知道这是什么时期了， 现在正是你们应该睡醒的时候， 因为我们得救， 现在比初信的时候更加接近了。

12 黑夜已深， 白昼近了， 所以我们要除掉暗昧的行为， 带上光明的武器。

13 行事为人要光明磊落， 好像行在白昼。不可荒宴醉酒， 不可放荡纵欲， 不可纷争嫉妒。

14 总要披戴主耶稣基督， 不要为肉体安排， 去放纵私欲。