My dear friends, don’t try to get even with other people. Leave it up to God to punish them. After all, it’s written that the Lord says, “I’m the one who punishes people who do wrong, and I will pay them back.”
We must all stand before Christ to be judged, and then each of us will receive what we deserve for the things we did while we were in our bodies, whether they were good or bad.
The one in authority serves God for your good. But if you do wrong, watch out! Rulers have been given the power of punishment for a good reason. They’re working for God, and it’s on God’s behalf that they punish people who do wrong.