1 Ikviens lai ir paklausīgs varām, kas valda. Jo nav valsts varas, kā vien no Dieva, un tās, kas ir, ir Dieva ieceltas.
2 Tā tad tas, kas pretojas valsts varai, saceļas pret Dieva iestādījumu. Bet tie, kas saceļas pret to, paši sev sagādā sodu.
3 Jo valdītāji nav bīstami labam darbam, bet ļaunam. Tu negribi bīties valsts varas, —labi, dari to, kas labs, tad tu saņemsi viņas uzslavu,
4 Jo tā ir Dieva kalpone tevis labā. Bet ja tu dari ļaunu, tad bīsties; ne velti tā nes zobenu, jo tā ir Dieva kalpone, atriebēja un soda nesēja tam, kas dara ļaunu.
5 Tādēļ nepieciešami tai paklausīt nevien soda dēļ, bet arī sirdsapziņas dēļ.
6 Tāpēc maksājiet arī savas nodevas: viņi, kas uz to raugās, ir Dieva kalpi.
7 Dodiet katram, kas viņam pienākas: nodevas, kam nākas nodevas, muitu, kam nākas muita, bijību, kam nākas bijība, cieņu, kam nākas cieņa.
8 Nepalieciet nevienam neko parādā, kā vienīgi, ka jūs cits citu mīlat. Jo, kas otru mīl, tas ir piepildījis bauslību.
9 Jo baušļi: tev nebūs pārkāpt laulību, tev nebūs nokaut, tev nebūs zagt, tev nebūs iekārot, un ja vēl ir kāds cits bauslis, saņemami kopā šinī vārdā, proti: Mīli savu tuvāko kā sevi pašu.
10 Mīlestība tuvākajam Jauna nedara: tā tad bauslības piepildījums ir—mīlestība.
11 To darait, saprazdami šo laiku, ka jums jau pienākusi stunda celties no miega. Jo tagad mūsu pestīšana ir tuvāk nekā toreiz, kad kļuvām ticīgi.
12 Nakts drīz būs pagājusi, diena ir tuvu: tāpēc noliksim tumsības darbus un tērpsimies gaismas bruņās.
13 Dzīvosim cienīgi, kā diena to prasa, nevis dzīrēs un skurbumā, izvir-tībā un izlaidībā, ķildās un naidā,
14 Bet lai jūsu bruņas ir Kungs Jēzus Kristus, un nelutiniet miesu, lai nekristu kārības.
Obey Rulers
1 Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power. 2 People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished. 3 Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it. 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 You must also pay your taxes. The authorities are God's servants, and it is their duty to take care of these matters. 7 Pay all that you owe, whether it is taxes and fees or respect and honor.
Love
8 Let love be your only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands. 9 In the Law there are many commands, such as, “Be faithful in marriage. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not want what belongs to others.” But all of these are summed up in the command that says, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” 10 No one who loves others will harm them. So love is all that the Law demands.
The Day When Christ Returns
11 You know what sort of times we live in, and so you should live properly. It is time to wake up. You know that the day when we will be saved is nearer now than when we first put our faith in the Lord. 12 Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light. 13 So behave properly, as people do in the day. Don't go to wild parties or get drunk or be vulgar or indecent. Don't quarrel or be jealous. 14 Let the Lord Jesus Christ be as near to you as the clothes you wear. Then you won't try to satisfy your selfish desires.
