Scripture Reference Window
   Browser "Back" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" to return.

Romans 13:1-4 CEV
(1) Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their (relative) places of power. (2) People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished. (3) Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it. (4) After all, they are God's servants, and it is their duty to help you. If you do something wrong, you ought to be afraid, because these rulers have the right to punish you. They are God's servants who punish criminals...
The string of nations that have ruled the earth have been under the oversight of God. Not that they were his servants, but he used them to hold anarchy at bay. Daniel spoke of an end of days last deceitful and wicked king, a little horn appearing for 3 1/2 years and destroyed. The little horn would try to change times and the natural order of things. (Dan 8:23-26; Dan 7:7-8; Dan 7:25) John in Revelation refers to Daniel's little horn as a wannabe 8th head or king. He makes a grandiose entrance, is worshiped by much of the earth becasue he has a head wound that is healed, or seems to come back from the dead, only to be destroyed after 42 months. (Rev 13:1-4) Those prophesies may refer to a man or group trying to turn the nations into violent ruthless gangs, leaving no hope for the righteous. Well, actually making clear to all the world, the only hope for anyone is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ! (Mat 24:21-22)
Romans 13:1-4 GW
Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn't been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place [put in their relative positions] by God. (2) Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves. (3) People who do what is right don't have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you. (4) The government is God's servant working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid. The government has the right to carry out the death sentence. It is God's servant, an avenger to execute God's anger on anyone who does what is wrong.

Romans 13:1-4 ESV
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. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, (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. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:1-4 ALT
(1) Let every soul be submitting to higher [or, governing] authorities, for [there] is no authority except from God, but the existing authorities have been appointed by God. (2) Accordingly, the one setting himself in opposition to the [governing] authority has resisted God's ordinance, and the ones having resisted will receive judgment to themselves. (3) For the ones ruling are not a terror of good works, _but_ of evil [works]. So do you want to not be fearing the [governing] authority? Be doing good, and you will have praise [or, approval] from it [i.e. the ruling authority]. (4) For it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you are doing evil, be fearing, for it does not bear the sword without reason. For it is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to the one doing evil.

Romans 13:1-4 GNB
(1) Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God's permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. (2) Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself. (3) For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority? Then do what is good, and they will praise you, (4) because they are God's servants working for your own good. But if you do evil, then be afraid of them, because their power to punish is real. They are God's servants and carry out God's punishment on those who do evil.

Please use browser back arrow to return to previous page. | Home


You will note the reference windows often include more than one translation of the Bible. The reason is to strive to gain the best possible understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek. Since we don't speak those languages, we rely on those who have come before and made the effort to translate those texts into English for us. Considering several translations gives the benefit of the understanding of several translation committees or individuals.
The Translations we quote are:

ALT - Analytical Literal Translation

ASV - American Standard Version (by the American revision committee in 1897).

Darby - 1889 Darby Bible

DRB - 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible

BBE - 1965 Bible in Basic English

LITV - Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

KJV - King James Version

MKJV - Modern King James Version

NWT - New World Translation

Webster - 1833 Webster Bible

RV - Revised Version

YLT - Young's Literal Translation