Romans 13:4 
Context| NET © | for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. |
| NIV © | For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. |
| NASB © | for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. |
| NLT © | The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. |
| MSG © | the government working to your advantage. But if you're breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren't there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. |
| BBE © | For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God’s servant, making God’s punishment come on the evil-doer. |
| NRSV © | for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. |
| NKJV © | For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. |
| KJV | For <1063> the minister <1249> of God <2316> to thee <4671> for <1519> good <18>_. But <1161> if <1437> that which is evil <2556>_, for <1063> not <3756> the sword <3162> in vain <1500>_: for <1063> the minister <1249> of God <2316>_, a revenger <1558> to [execute] wrath <3709> upon <1519> evil <2556>_. |
| NASB © | for it is a minister <1249> of God <2316> to you for good <18> . But if <1437> you do <4160> what <2556> is evil <2556> , be afraid <5399> ; for it does not bear <5409> the sword <3162> for nothing <1500> ; for it is a minister <1249> of God <2316> , an avenger <1558> who brings wrath <3709> on the one who practices <4238> evil .<2556> |
| GREEK | |
| NET © [draft] ITL | for <1063> it is <1510> God’s <2316> servant <1249> for <1519> your <4671> good <18> . But <1161> if <1437> you do <4160> wrong <2556> , be in fear <5399> , for <1063> it does <5409> not <3756> bear <5409> the sword <3162> in vain <1500> . It is <1510> God’s <2316> servant <1249> to <1519> administer <1558> retribution <3709> on the wrongdoer <2556> <4238> |
| NET © | for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. |
| NET © Notes | |
