Romans 13:4-6

Contemporary English Version

⁴ After all, they are God's servants, and it is their duty to help you.

If you do something wrong, you ought to be afraid, because these rulers have the right to punish you. They are God's servants who punish criminals to show how angry God is. ⁵ But you should obey the rulers because you know it is the right thing to do, and not just because of God's anger.

^6 (A) You must also pay your taxes. The authorities are God's servants, and it is their duty to take care of these matters.