Romans 12:17-13:7

English Standard Version

^17 (A)Repay no one evil for evil, but ^(B)give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, ^(C)live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, ^(D)never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, ^(E)“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, ^(F)“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Submission to the Authorities

13 Let every person ^(G)be subject to the governing authorities. For ^(H)there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you ^(I)will receive his approval, ⁴ for ^(J)he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, ^(K)an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also ^(L)for the sake of conscience. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ^7 (M)Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.