(1 Peter 2:13–20)
1
Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,
2
so that he who is setting himself against the authority, has resisted against God’s ordinance; and those resisting will receive judgment to themselves.
3
For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and do you wish to not be afraid of the authority? Be doing that which is good, and you will have praise from it,
4
for it is a servant of God to you for good; and if you may do that which is evil, be fearing, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.
5
For this reason it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience,
6
for because of this you also pay tribute; for they are servants of God, on this very thing attending continually;
7
render, therefore, to all [their] dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honor, the honor.
Love Fulfills the Law
(Leviticus 19:9–18)
8
To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other—he has fulfilled law,
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for, “You will not commit adultery, You will not murder, You will not steal, You will not bear false testimony, You will not covet”; and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: “You will love your neighbor as yourself”;
10
the love to the neighbor works no ill; the love, therefore, [is] the fullness of law.
The Day Is Near
11
And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already [is] to be aroused out of sleep, for now our salvation [is] nearer than when we believed;
12
the night advanced, and the day came near; let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armor of the light;
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as in daytime, let us walk properly; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy;
14
but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and take no forethought for the flesh—for desires.
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