13 ¹ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 13 ² Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 13 ³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 13 ⁴ for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. 13 ⁵ Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 13 ⁶ For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 13 ⁷ Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honour to whom honour is due.