Romans 13 (NMV)
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God.
2 So then, the one who resists authority is opposing what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for those who do good, but for those who do evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive their approval,
4 for they are God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because they do not carry the sword for nothing. For they are God's servant, an agent of justice to bring punishment on the one who does wrong.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit, not only because of the threat of punishment but also for the sake of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for authorities are God's servants, who continually attend to this very duty.
7 Pay to everyone what you owe them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, and honor to whom honor is owed.
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 The commandments: "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not desire what belongs to someone else," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, understanding the present time: It is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and unrestrained immorality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision to gratify the desires of the flesh.