Romans 12:17--13:7

12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. ¹  12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. ²  12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, ³  for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” ⁴  says the Lord. 12:20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. ⁵  12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Submission to Civil Government

13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, ⁶  and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 13:2 So the person who resists such authority ⁷  resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment 13:3 (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, 13:4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. 13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities ⁸  but also because of your conscience. ⁹  13:6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities ¹⁰  are God’s servants devoted to governing. ¹¹  13:7 Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

[12:17]  ¹ tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used as a generic and refers to both men and women.

[12:18]  ² tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used as a generic and refers to both men and women.

[12:19]  ³ tn Grk “the wrath,” referring to God’s wrath as the remainder of the verse shows.

[12:19]  ⁴ sn A quotation from Deut 32:35.

[12:20]  ⁴ sn A quotation from Prov 25:21-22.

[13:1]  ⁵ tn Grk “by God.”

[13:2]  ⁶ tn Grk “the authority,” referring to the authority just described.

[13:5]  ⁷ tn Grk “its wrath”; the referent (the governing authorities) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:5]  ⁸ tn Grk “because of (the) conscience,” but the English possessive “your” helps to show whose conscience the context implies.

[13:6]  ⁸ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the governing authorities) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:6]  ⁹ tn Grk “devoted to this very thing.”