Romans 13:1-4 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.

Common⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. ² Therefore he who resists the authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will have praise from him. ⁴ For he is God's servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is God's servant, an avenger to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.