⁵ Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities,^[a] not only for the sake of God’s^[b] punishment,^[c] but also for the sake of your own conscience. ⁶ This is also why you pay taxes. For rulers^[d] are God’s servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work.^{[e] 7} Pay everyone whatever you owe them—taxes to whom taxes are due, tolls to whom tolls are due, fear^[f] to whom fear^[g] is due, honor to whom honor is due.