13 ¹ Every person must submit to the supreme authorities. There is no authority but by act of God, and the existing authorities are instituted by him; 13 ² consequently anyone who rebels against authority is resisting a divine institution, and those who so resist have themselves to thank for the punishment they will receive. 13 ³ For government, a terror to crime, has no terrors for good behaviour. You wish to have no fear of the authorities? Then continue to do right and you will have their approval, 13 ⁴ for they are God's agents working for your good. But if you are doing wrong, then you will have cause to fear them; it is not for nothing that they hold the power of the sword, for they are God's agents of punishment, for retribution on the offender. 13 ⁵ That is why you are obliged to submit. It is an obligation imposed not merely by fear of retribution but by conscience. 13 ⁶ That is also why you pay taxes. The authorities are in God's service and to these duties they devote their energies.
13 ⁷ Discharge your obligations to all men; pay tax and toll, reverence and respect, to those to whom they are due.