Romans · Romans 13
For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible British Edition, which is in the public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.
The verses immediately either side, within Romans 13.
Before
2Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgement.
Romans 13:3
For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,
After
4for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
This verse does not yet have an editorial note of its own. The chapter it belongs to is the best place to read it: Romans 13.