13 Lot aulamaun dee Rejiarung unjadon senne dee aewa an harscht. Dan doa es kjeene Rejiarung dee nich fonn Gott es, en dee doa sent, sent fonn Gott bestaedicht.

Aulso waea sikj jeajen dee Rejiarung stalt, stalt sikj jaeajen Gott siene Ordninj; en dee sikj jaeajenaun stale, woare aewa sikj selfst Uadeel brinje.

Dan dee doa rejiare sent nich to ferchte waeajen goodet, oba waeajen Beeset. West du die dan fa dee Rejiarung nich engste, dan doo goodet, dan woascht du Ea ha fonn an;

Dan hee es Gott sien Deena die tom goode. Oba wan du beeset deist, engst die, wiel hee dracht nich daut Schweat emsonst; wiel aus Gott sien Deena es hee dee, dee Rach eeft aewa daen, dee Beeset doone.

Doaromm eset needich unjadon to senne, nich bloos waeajen Oaja, oba uk waeajen daut Jewesse.

Doaromm tolt uk Taks, dan see sent Gott siene Deena dee sikj emma doato hanjaewe.

Jaeft aulamaun waut an traft: Taks daem Taks traft; Tsol daem Tsol traft; Fercht daem Fercht traft; Ea daem Ea traft.

Siet kjeenem waut Schuldich, buta eena daem aundra Leef to habe, dan waea leeft haft daut Jesats erfelt.

Dan dit: "Du saust nich Eehabraeakje; du saust nich morde, du saust nich staele, du saust die nich jeleste lote", en wan doa irjent en aundret Jeboot es, eset aules enn dit ennjeschlote: "Du saust dien Noba soo leef ha aus die selfst".

10 De Leew deit nusscht Beeset jaejen sien Noba, doaromm es daut Jesats enne Leew erfelt.

11 En wie weete dautet nu aul huach Tiet es daut wie ut onns Schlop oppwakje - dan onnse Radung es nu noda auset wea aus wie tom Gloowe kjeeme.

12 De Nacht es meist febie, en de Dach es meist hia. Doaromm wel wie nu dan de Woakje de Diestanes auntsied schmiete, en onns bekjleede met daut waut Licht aunjeheat.

13 Dan wel wie waundle so auset met Licht stemme wudd, nich enn wilet Laewe oda Suparie, nich enn fleeschelosst en aewedriewe, nich enn Striet oda Aufgonst,

14 oba bekjleet junt met daem Herr Jesus Christus, en jaeft daut Fleesch nich ne Jelaejenheit de Losst to erfelle.

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(C) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.(D) For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.(E) Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(F)

This is also why you pay taxes,(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love Fulfills the Law

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.(I) The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a](J) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up(K) in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](L) 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.(M)

The Day Is Near

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come(N) for you to wake up from your slumber,(O) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.(P) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness(Q) and put on the armor(R) of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,(S) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.(T) 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,(U) and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[c](V)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21
  2. Romans 13:9 Lev. 19:18
  3. Romans 13:14 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.