Romans 13:4-6

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁴ for it is God’s agent for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority^[a] does not bear the sword in vain! It is the agent of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.^{(A) 6} For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s agents, busy with this very thing.