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Romans 13:4

Authority and leadershipJustice

2 Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
KJV
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
WEB
for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
ASV
for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.
DARBY
for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.
BLB
For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is God’s servant, an avenger for wrath to the one practicing evil.
ÅB
For den er Guds tjener, til ditt beste. Men hvis du gjør det onde, frykt! Den bærer ikke sverdet forgjeves. Den er Guds tjener, en hevner som straffer den som gjør det onde.
OTB
For myndigheten er en Guds tjener til ditt beste. Men hvis du gjør ondt, frykt, for den bærer ikke sverdet forgjeves; den er en Guds tjener, en hevner til å bringe vrede over den som gjør ondt.
B1930
for den er Guds tjener, dig til gode. Men gjør du det som ondt er, da frykt! for den bærer ikke sverdet for intet; for den er Guds tjener, en hevner til straff over den som gjør det som ondt er.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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