Submission to Governing Authorities
1Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Love Fulfills the Law
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21 and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”13:9 Lev. 19:18 10Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
The Day Is Near
11And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.13:14 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
Momfa Nidi Mma Tumi
1Ɛsɛ sɛ obiara brɛ ne ho ase ma tumi a ɛwɔ ɔman no mu, efisɛ tumi biara nni hɔ a emfi Onyankopɔn pɛ mu. Tumi biara a ɛwɔ hɔ no fi Onyankopɔn. 2Obiara a ɔne tumi a ɛwɔ hɔ no di asi no tia nea Onyankopɔn ahyehyɛ. Na obiara a ɔbɛyɛ saa no de atemmu ba nʼankasa so. 3Wɔn a wɔyɛ papa no nsuro atumfo, na mmom wɔn a wɔyɛ amumɔyɛ no na wosuro atumfo. Wopɛ sɛ woyɛ obi a onsuro nea tumi wɔ ne nsam ana? Ɛno de, yɛ nea ɛteɛ na ɔbɛkamfo wo. 4Efisɛ ɔyɛ Onyankopɔn somfo a wo yiyedi mu nti na ɔyɛ adwuma. Na sɛ woyɛ bɔne a, suro no efisɛ ne tumi a ɔde twe aso no da hɔ fann. Ɔyɛ Onyankopɔn somfo, enti ɔnam Onyankopɔn abufuw so twe wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne no aso. 5Esiane saa nti, ɛsɛ sɛ wobrɛ wo ho ase ma tumi, a ɛnyɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn abufuw no nti, na mmom, esiane nim a wunim sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ woyɛ no nti.
6Eyi nti na ɛsɛ sɛ wutua tow, efisɛ sɛ atumfo no yɛ wɔn adwuma a, wɔyɛ ma Onyankopɔn. 7Enti tua ka a wode wɔn; tua ka a wode; sɛ ɛyɛ wo honam mu ka anaasɛ ɛyɛ agyapade ho ka, na fa obu ne nidi ma wɔn nyinaa.
Asɛde
8Nne obiara ka. Ka a ɛsɛ sɛ wode ara ne sɛ wobɛdɔ afoforo. Obiara a ɔdɔ ne yɔnko nnipa no adi mmara no so. 9Mmaransɛm a ɛka se, “Nsɛe aware, nni awu, mmɔ korɔn, mma wʼani mmere ade,” eyinom ne nea ɛkeka ho nyinaa tiaatwa ara ne sɛ, “Dɔ wo yɔnko sɛ wo ho.” 10Obiara a ɔdɔ ne yɔnko no nyɛ no bɔne. Sɛ wodɔ wo yɔnko a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ woadi mmara no nyinaa so.
11Ɛsɛ sɛ woyɛ eyi, efisɛ wunim dɔn ko a yɛwɔ mu. Bere adu sɛ wosɔre fi wo nna mu. Efisɛ bere a ɛsɛ sɛ wogye yɛn nkwa no abɛn sen bere a yegye dii kan no. 12Adesae retwa mu, na adekyee reyɛ abɛn yɛn. Enti, momma yennyae nneɛma a ɛyɛ sum de no yɛ, na momfa akode a wɔde ko wɔ hann mu no. 13Momma yɛmmɔ yɛn bra yiye te sɛ nnipa a wɔte hann no mu a agobɔne anaa nsabow, aguamammɔ anaa ahohwi, ɔko anaa anibere nni mu. 14Momma Awurade Yesu Kristo mmɛn mo te sɛ ntama a mufura, na morempɛ sɛ mobɛyɛ nea ɔhonam pɛ.
