Romans 13:4

Bible in Basic English (1941)

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Chr 19:6 : 6 And said to the judges, Take care what you do, for you are judging not for man but for the Lord, and he is with you in the decisions you give.
  • Rom 12:19 : 19 Do not give punishment for wrongs done to you, dear brothers, but give way to the wrath of God; for it is said in the holy Writings, Punishment is mine, I will give reward, says the Lord.
  • 1 Thess 4:6 : 6 And that no man may make attempts to get the better of his brother in business: for the Lord is the judge in all these things, as we said to you before and gave witness.
  • Prov 24:23-24 : 23 These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good. 24 He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
  • Prov 31:8-9 : 8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death. 9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
  • Eccl 8:2-5 : 2 I say to you, Keep the king's law, from respect for the oath of God. 3 Be not quick to go from before him. Be not fixed in an evil design, because he does whatever is pleasing to him. 4 The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing? 5 Whoever keeps the law will come to no evil: and a wise man's heart has knowledge of time and of decision.
  • Isa 1:17 : 17 Take pleasure in well-doing; let your ways be upright, keep down the cruel, give a right decision for the child who has no father, see to the cause of the widow.
  • Jer 5:28 : 28 They have become fat and strong: they have gone far in works of evil: they give no support to the cause of the child without a father, so that they may do well; they do not see that the poor man gets his rights.
  • Ezek 22:27 : 27 Her rulers in her are like wolves violently taking their food; putting men to death and causing the destruction of souls, so that they may get their profit.
  • Ezek 25:14 : 14 I will take payment from Edom because of my people Israel; and I will take Edom in hand in my wrath and in my passion: and they will have experience of my reward, says the Lord.
  • Mic 3:1-4 : 1 And I said, Give ear, now, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the people of Israel: is it not for you to have knowledge of what is right? 2 You who are haters of good and lovers of evil, pulling off their skin from them and their flesh from their bones; 3 Like meat they take the flesh of my people for their food, skinning them and crushing their bones, yes, cutting them up as if for the pot, like flesh inside the cooking-pot. 4 Then they will be crying to the Lord for help, but he will not give them an answer: yes, he will keep his face veiled from them at that time, because their acts have been evil.
  • Mic 3:9 : 9 Then give ear to this, you heads of the children of Jacob, you rulers of the children of Israel, hating what is right, twisting what is straight.
  • Ps 82:2-4 : 2 How long will you go on judging falsely, having respect for the persons of evil-doers? (Selah.) 3 Give ear to the cause of the poor and the children without fathers; let those who are troubled and in need have their rights. 4 Be the saviour of the poor and those who have nothing: take them out of the hand of the evil-doers.
  • Prov 16:14 : 14 The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
  • Prov 20:2 : 2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
  • Prov 20:8 : 8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
  • Prov 20:26 : 26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
  • Num 35:19-27 : 19 He whose right it is to give punishment for blood, may himself put to death the taker of life when he comes face to face with him. 20 If in his hate he put a sword through him, or waiting secretly for him sent a spear or stone at him, causing his death; 21 Or in hate gave him blows with his hand, causing death; he who gave the death-blow is to be put to death; he is a taker of life: he whose right it is to give punishment for blood may put to death the taker of life when he comes face to face with him. 22 But if a man has given a wound to another suddenly and not in hate, or without design has sent something against him, 23 Or has given him a blow with a stone, without seeing him, so causing his death, though he had nothing against him and no desire to do him evil: 24 Then let the meeting of the people be judge between the man responsible for the death and him who has the right of punishment for blood, acting by these rules: 25 And let the people keep the man responsible for the death safe from the hands of him who has the right of punishment for blood, and send him back to his safe town where he had gone in flight: there let him be till the death of the high priest who was marked with the holy oil. 26 But if ever he goes outside the walls of the safe town where he had gone in flight, 27 And the giver of punishment, meeting him outside the walls of the town, puts him to death, he will not be responsible for his blood:
  • Josh 20:9 : 9 These were the towns marked out for all the children of Israel and for the man from a strange country living among them, so that anyone causing the death of another in error, might go in flight there, and not be put to death by him who has the right of punishment for blood till he had come before the meeting of the people.
  • 1 Kgs 10:9 : 9 May the Lord your God be praised, whose pleasure it was to put you on the seat of the kingdom of Israel; because the Lord's love for Israel is eternal, he has made you king, to be their judge in righteousness.
  • Rom 13:6 : 6 For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God's servant, to take care of such things at all times.
  • Josh 20:5 : 5 And if the one who has the right of punishment comes after him, they are not to give the taker of life up to him; because he was the cause of his neighbour's death without designing it and not in hate.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Rom 13:1-3
    3 verses
    88%

    1 Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God.

    2 For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves.

    3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise;

  • 1 Pet 2:13-18
    6 verses
    80%

    13 Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all,

    14 And those of the rulers who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well.

    15 Because it is God's pleasure that foolish and narrow-minded men may be put to shame by your good behaviour:

    16 As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrongdoing, but living as the servants of God;

    17 Have respect for all, loving the brothers, fearing God, honouring the king.

    18 Servants, take orders from your masters with all respect; not only if they are good and gentle, but even if they are bad-humoured.

  • Rom 13:5-7
    3 verses
    80%

    5 So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right.

    6 For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God's servant, to take care of such things at all times.

    7 Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.

  • Job 19:29
    71%

    29 Be in fear of the sword, for the sword is the punishment for such things, so that you may be certain that there is a judge.

  • Titus 3:1
    71%

    1 Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work,

  • 1 Pet 3:12-14
    3 verses
    69%

    12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

    13 Who will do you any damage if you keep your minds fixed on what is good?

    14 But you are happy if you undergo pain because of righteousness; have no part in their fear and do not be troubled;

  • Rev 13:10
    69%

    10 If any man sends others into prison, into prison he will go: if any man puts to death with the sword, with the sword will he be put to death. Here is the quiet strength and the faith of the saints.

  • 1 Tim 2:2-3
    2 verses
    68%

    2 For kings and all those in authority; so that we may have a calm and quiet life in all fear of God and serious behaviour.

    3 This is good and pleasing in the eyes of God our Saviour;

  • Rom 12:19
    67%

    19 Do not give punishment for wrongs done to you, dear brothers, but give way to the wrath of God; for it is said in the holy Writings, Punishment is mine, I will give reward, says the Lord.

  • Ps 149:7
    67%

    7 To give the nations the reward of their sins, and the peoples their punishment;

  • Heb 13:17
    66%

    17 Give ear to those who are rulers over you, and do as they say: for they keep watch over your souls, ready to give an account of them; let them be able to do this with joy and not with grief, because that would be of no profit to you.

  • 1 Tim 1:8-9
    2 verses
    66%

    8 We are conscious that the law is good, if a man makes a right use of it,

    9 With the knowledge that the law is made, not for the upright man, but for those who have no respect for law and order, for evil men and sinners, for the unholy and those who have no religion, for those who put their fathers or mothers to death, for takers of life,

  • Col 3:25
    66%

    25 For the wrongdoer will have punishment for the wrong he has done, without respect for any man's position.

  • Job 13:11
    66%

    11 Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him?

  • Luke 12:4-5
    2 verses
    66%

    4 And I say to you, my friends, Have no fear of those who may put the body to death, and are able to do no more than that.

    5 But I will make clear to you of whom you are to be in fear: of him who after death has power to send you to hell; yes, truly I say, Have fear of him.

  • Eph 6:5
    66%

    5 Servants, do what is ordered by those who are your natural masters, having respect and fear for them, with all your heart, as to Christ;

  • 1 Pet 3:17
    65%

    17 Because if it is God's purpose for you to undergo pain, it is better to do so for well-doing than for evil-doing.

  • Col 4:1
    65%

    1 Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven.

  • Prov 16:14
    65%

    14 The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.

  • Eccl 8:4
    65%

    4 The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing?

  • Lev 25:43
    65%

    43 Do not be a hard master to him, but have the fear of God before you.

  • Eph 6:9
    65%

    9 And, you masters, do the same things to them, not making use of violent words: in the knowledge that their Master and yours is in heaven, and he has no respect for a man's position.

  • Ps 125:4
    65%

    4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart.

  • Ps 37:32
    65%

    32 The sinners are watching the upright man, desiring to put him to death.

  • 2 Cor 13:10
    65%

    10 For this cause I am writing these things while I am away, so that there may be need for me, when I am present, to make use of sharp measures, by the authority which the Lord has given me for building up and not for destruction.

  • Prov 20:2
    65%

    2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.

  • Rom 2:6
    65%

    6 Who will give to every man his right reward:

  • 1 Pet 4:15
    65%

    15 Let no one among you undergo punishment as a taker of life, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as one who is over-interested in other men's business;

  • Ps 110:5
    65%

    5 In the day of his wrath kings will be wounded by the Lord at your right hand.

  • 1 Thess 5:15
    65%

    15 Let no one give evil for evil; but ever go after what is good, for one another and for all.

  • Rom 2:13
    65%

    13 For it is not the hearers of the law who will be judged as having righteousness before God, but only the doers:

  • Col 3:22
    65%

    22 Servants, in all things do the orders of your natural masters; not only when their eyes are on you, as pleasers of men, but with all your heart, fearing the Lord:

  • 1 Thess 4:6
    65%

    6 And that no man may make attempts to get the better of his brother in business: for the Lord is the judge in all these things, as we said to you before and gave witness.

  • Prov 14:35
    65%

    35 The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.

  • Rom 2:3
    65%

    3 But you who are judging another for doing what you do yourself, are you hoping that God's decision will not take effect against you?

  • Eccl 8:13
    65%

    13 But it will not be well for the evil-doer; he will not make his days long like a shade, because he has no fear before God.