Romans 13 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Everyone should place themselves under the governing authorities. Because there's no authority that exists apart from God — every authority that's in place has been established by God.

So anyone who resists the authority is pushing back against what God has put in place, and those who push back will bring judgment on themselves.

Rulers aren't a threat to people doing good — only to those doing wrong. You want to live without fear of the authorities? Then do what's good, and you'll actually get their approval.

The authority is God's servant working for your benefit. But if you do what's wrong, then be afraid — because they don't carry the sword for nothing. They're God's servant, an agent of justice who brings consequences on those who do wrong.

So it's necessary to place yourself under the authorities — not just because of the consequences, but because your own conscience tells you it's the right thing to do.

This is also why you pay taxes — because the authorities are God's public servants, devoting their time to governing.

Give everyone what you owe them: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those who deserve respect, and honor to those who deserve honor.

Don't owe anyone anything — except the ongoing debt to love each other. Because whoever loves others has fulfilled the entire law.

The commands — "Don't commit adultery," "Don't murder," "Don't steal," "Don't be greedy for what others have" — and every other command — are all summed up in this one statement: "Love the person next to you the way you love yourself."

Love never does harm to someone else. That's why love is the complete fulfillment of the law.

And do all this with an understanding of what time it is — it's already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because our rescue is closer now than when we first put our trust in God.

The night is almost over; the day is nearly here. So let's strip off everything we do in the dark and put on the armor of light.

Let's live with decency, the way people act in broad daylight — not in wild partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and chasing every desire, not in rivalry and jealousy.

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the One — and stop planning ways to satisfy your selfish desires.