1LET every soul be subject to the sover eign authorities. For there is no power which is not from God: and those who are in authority are ordained by God.
2Whoever therefore resists the civil authority, resists the command of God: and they that resist, shall receive judgment to themselves.
3For judges are not a menace to good works, but to evil. Now if you do not wish to be afraid of the authority, then do good, and you will be praised for it.
4For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is wrong, be afraid; for he is not girded with the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, and an avenger of wrath upon those who commit crime.
5Wherefore, we must be obedient, not only in fear of wrath, but also for our conscience sake.
6For, for this reason you pay head tax also: for they are ministers of God who are in charge of these things.
7Render therefore, to every one as is due to him: head tax to him who is in charge of head tax, duty to him who is in charge of custom; reverence to whom reverence is due, and honor to whom honor is due. 8Owe no man anything, but love one another: for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law, 9Which says, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is fulfilled in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10Love does not work evil to his neighbor because love is the fulfillment of the law. 11Know this also, that now is the time and the hour that we should awake from our sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk decently, as in the daylight; not in clamor and drunkenness, not in the practice of immorality, not in envy and strife. 14But clothe yourselves with our LORD Jesus Christ, and take no heed for the lusts of the flesh. Holy Bible From The Ancient Eastern Texts: Aramaic Of The Peshitta by George M. Lamsa (1933) |