1 Every soul (or: = Everyone) is to be continuously placed and arranged, or aligned, in a supportive position by superior (or: excelling) authorities (or: must be subjected to rulers holding dominion and jurisdiction above [him]; [p46, D*, F, G read: To every superior authority you folks must subject yourselves]). For an authority does not exist except under God (or: For there is no authority, except by God), and the existing ones are those which have been arranged and set in order, under God (placed in their relative positions by God).
2 So that, the one constantly placing himself in opposition to the authority (or: the man resisting and posting an array as to battle against or to stand instead of the authority) has taken a stand against God's precise and complete arrangement (or: institution), and the ones having taken an opposing stand, and remaining in determined resistance, will progressively take to themselves (or: will continue receiving in themselves) a result of a decision (the effect that which [God] decides to do or to bring to pass; a judgment-effect; a result of separating for evaluation).
3 For the chief ones (those in first position; the headships; the princes; the rulers) are not a fear to (or: for) the good work (the virtuous and profitable action), but rather, for the worthless (the ugly; the base; the evil; the one of poor quality). Now are you not wanting to constantly fear and be wary of (or: So are you normally desiring to be unafraid of) the authority? Keep doing the good (the virtuous; the profitable), and you will have praise (applause; commendation) forth from it [i.e., the authority],
4 for it is God's servant (attendant who renders service or does a duty; an aid in dispensing; one who arranges for provision) for you (or: to you), [directing you] into the good (the profitable; the virtuous). Yet if you should be constantly doing the worthless (the evil; the base; the thing of poor quality; the ugly), be fearing with a healthy respect, for it is not purposelessly (aimlessly; vainly) continuing to bear the sword! For it is God's servant, a maintainer of what is right (an obtainer and executor of justice; an avenger) into a fruitful fervor (to a strong personal emotion; unto an angry result; unto [its] personal bent) for (or: in; to) the person constantly practicing or performing the worthless (the ugly; the poor of quality; the evil).
5 On which account (or: Wherefore) [there is] compelling necessity (or: compression) to constantly be subjected and humbly aligned in support (or, as a middle: to be subjecting and aligning oneself; to place oneself under; to humbly subordinate oneself), not only (or: solely) because of strong personal emotion (intrinsic fervor; natural disposition; swelling desire and teeming passion; or: indignation, anger or wrath), but further, also, because of the conscience.
6 For you see, because of this you folks continually fulfill the obligation by paying tribute-taxes brought on by a foreign ruler – for they are God's public servants (officials; officers), men constantly attending to (staying by and persisting at) this very thing [i.e., duties].
7 Render (give away in answer to a claim; pay) the debts (the duties; what is owed) to everyone: to the tax [collector], the tax; to the [one collecting] civil support tax, the civil government tax; to [whom] fear [is due], fear; to the one [due] honor and value, honor and value.
8 You folks are not to be continual debtors (or: do not be in the habit of owing even one thing) to anyone, except to be constantly loving one another, for the person continually loving the different one (or: the other person) has made full the Law (has fulfilled law [or: = Torah] and custom) (or: You see, the one constantly loving has fulfilled the other, different law).
9 You see, the [Law, or Torah, says or prophesies], "You will not continue committing adultery," "You will not continue committing murder," "You will not continue stealing," "You will not continue to over-desire (crave; covet; lust)," [Ex. 20:13-14; Deut. 5:17- 18] and if any different implanted goal (impartation of the finished product within; inward directive), it continues being summed up in this word, namely, "You will continue loving your near one (participate with uniting and unambiguous acceptance with your close one, associate, or neighbor) as yourself." [Lev. 19:18]
10 Love is not habitually working [the] worthless (poor quality; base; bad; evil; harm) for (or: to; with) the near one (the associate; the neighbor). Love [is], then, that which fills up Law's full measure (the entire contents of law and custom; [the] Law's [= Torah's] fulfillment).
11 This also – being folks having seen and thus knowing the season (the fit of the situation; the appointed fertile moment) – that [it is] by this time (or: already) an hour to be aroused (or: awakened) out of sleep, for now our rescue (our deliverance; our wholeness, health and salvation) [is] closer than when we came to trust (or: we believed with faith and conviction).
12 The night advances, and the day has approached and is presently near. We should put, then, the acts of the Darkness (works from the realm of the shadows; actions that belong to dimness and obscurity) away from ourselves (or: take off and put away the deeds pertaining to darkness; = ignorance; that which was before the light arrived), and clothe ourselves with the instruments (tools; weapons; implements; [some MSS: works; deeds]) of Light (or: The Light).
13 As within [the] Day, we should (may; can) walk about (= live our lives) respectably (reputably; decently; with good form; mannerly; pleasing to look upon; presentably) – not in festive processions (or: orgies; revelries; excessive feastings; carousing) and collective drunkenness (intoxications); nor in beds (i.e., sexual interludes) and outrageous behaviors (vice; loose conduct; indecencies); not in strife (or: contentious disposition) and in jealousy (or: envy) –
14 but rather, you folks must clothe yourselves with (or: enter within and put on) the Lord, Jesus Christ, and stop (or: do not continue) making forethought (constructing provision; planning ahead; performing provident care) into excessive desires of the flesh (= into rushing upon emotions which pertain to the inner self or the estranged humanity; = into the setting of feelings and longings upon something of the human nature that is oriented to the System).