Letters to the Churches

in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;

in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;

to the necessities of the saints communicating; the hospitality pursuing.

Bless those persecuting you; bless, and curse not;

to rejoice with the rejoicing, and to weep with the weeping,

of the same mind one toward another, not minding the high things, but with the lowly going along; become not wise in your own conceit;

giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men.

If possible--so far as in you--with all men being in peace;

not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance is Mine,

I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;

Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.

Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,

so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God's ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment.

For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it,

for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.

Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience,

for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually;

render, therefore, to all their dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour.

To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other--law he hath fulfilled,

for, `Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false testimony, Thou shalt not covet;' and if there is any other command, in this word it is summed up, in this: `Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;'

the love to the neighbour doth work no ill; the love, therefore, is the fulness of law.

And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already is to be aroused out of sleep, for now nearer is our salvation than when we did believe;

the night did advance, and the day came nigh; let us lay aside, therefore, the works of the darkness, and let us put on the armour of the light;

as in day-time, let us walk becomingly; not in revellings and drunkennesses, not in chamberings and lasciviousnesses, not in strife and emulation;

but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the flesh take no forethought--for desires.