Romans 13:4 - Revised Standard Version CI

⁴ for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁴ for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁴ For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.

American Standard Version (1901)

⁴ for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.

Common English Bible

⁴ It is God’s servant given for your benefit. But if you do what’s wrong, be afraid because it doesn’t have weapons to enforce the law for nothing. It is God’s servant put in place to carry out his punishment on those who do what is wrong.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁴ For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

⁴ For he is God's minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God's minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.

Romans 13:4 Cross References

1 Kings 10:9

Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel for ever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”

2 Chronicles 19:6

and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord; he is with you in giving judgment.

Proverbs 16:14

A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it.

Proverbs 20:2

The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

Proverbs 20:26

A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the wheel over them.

Proverbs 20:8

A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

Isaiah 1:17

learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Jeremiah 5:28

they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of wickedness; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.

Ezekiel 22:27

Her princes in the midst of her are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.

Ezekiel 25:14

And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord God.

Micah 3:9

Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity,

Romans 12:19

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Romans 13:6

For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.

1 Thessalonians 4:6

that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you.

Joshua 20:5

And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the slayer into his hand; because he killed his neighbor unwittingly, having had no enmity against him in times past.

Joshua 20:9

These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel, and for the stranger sojourning among them, that any one who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.

1 Peter 2:14

or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.