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Romans 13:5

Authority and leadershipObedienceIntegrity

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.

4 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.

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.

7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

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

Compare

BSB
Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.
KJV
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
WEB
Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
ASV
Wherefore [ye] must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience` sake.
DARBY
Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also on account of conscience.
BLB
Therefore [it is] necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath, but also because of the conscience.
ÅB
Derfor er det nødvendig å underordne seg, ikke bare for straffens skyld, men også for samvittighetens skyld.
OTB
Derfor er det nødvendig å underordne seg myndighetene, ikke bare for å unngå vrede, men også for samvittighetens skyld.
B1930
Derfor er det nødvendig å være lydig mot den, ikke bare for straffens skyld, men også for samvittighetens.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references