Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from Allah, and those who exist are ordained by Allah. 2Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of Allah; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to those who do good, but to evildoers. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same, 4for he is a servant of Allah to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of Allah, an avenger to punish him who does evil. 5Therefore you need to be in submission, not only because of the punishment, but also for conscience’ sake. 6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of Allah, attending continually on this very thing. 7Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honour to whom honour. 8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the shariah of the Taurat.
9For the commands, “You shall not commit adultery,“ “You shall not murder,“ “You shall not steal,“ “You shall not give false testimony,“ “You shall not covet,“[1] and whatever other commands there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.“[2] 10Love does not harm a neighbour. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the Taurat’s shariah. 11Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 12The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let us therefore throw off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. 13Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord ‘Isa al-Masih, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
[1] 13:9 Quoting the Taurat, Exodus 20:13-17.
[2] 13:9 Quoting the Taurat, Leviticus 19:18.