Romans 13:4

God's Word

The government is God’s servant working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid. The government has the right to carry out the death sentence. It is God’s servant, an avenger to execute God’s anger on anyone who does what is wrong.

Cross References

1 Kings 10:9

Thank the Lord your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on the throne of Israel. Because of your God’s eternal love for the people of Israel, he has made you king so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.”

2 Chronicles 19:6

He told the judges, “Pay attention to what you’re doing. When you judge, you aren’t doing it for a human but for the Lord. He will be with you when you hear a case.

Proverbs 16:14

A king’s anger announces death, but a wise man makes peace with him.

Proverbs 20:2

The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion. Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life.

Proverbs 20:26

A wise king scatters the wicked and then runs them over.

Proverbs 20:8

A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Arrest oppressors. Defend orphans. Plead the case of widows.”

Jeremiah 5:28

They grow big and fat. Their evil deeds have no limits. They have no respect for the rights of others. They have no respect for the rights of orphans. But they still prosper. They don’t defend the rights of the poor.

Ezekiel 22:27

Your leaders are like wolves that tear their prey into pieces. They murder and destroy people to make excessive profits.

Ezekiel 25:14

I will use my people Israel to take revenge on Edom. My people will deal with Edom based on my anger and my fury. Then the Edomites will know my revenge, declares the Almighty Lord.

Micah 3:9

Listen to this, you leaders of the descendants of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel. You despise justice and pervert everything that is right.

Romans 12:19

Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord.”

Romans 13:6

That is also why you pay your taxes. People in the government are God’s servants while they do the work he has given them.

1 Thessalonians 4:6

No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We’ve already told you and warned you about this.

Joshua 20:5

“ ‘If the relative who can avenge the death pursues him, the leaders must not hand him over to the relative because he didn’t intend to kill the other person. He didn’t even hate the person he killed.

Joshua 20:9

These are the cities chosen as cities of refuge for all Israelites, including the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally kills someone may escape to these cities. Then he will not be handed over to the relative who can avenge a death before he stands trial in front of the congregation.

1 Peter 2:14

Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.