Romans 13:4

KJV1611 – Modern English

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 does evil.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    For the ruler is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God's servant, an avenger who carries out wrath on the wrongdoer.

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    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.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    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.

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    For he is the minister of God for thy welth. But and yf thou do evyll then feare: for he beareth not a swearde for nought: but is the minister of God to take vengeaunce on them that do evyll.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    for he is the minister off God for thy wealth. But yff thou do euell, then feare, for he beareth not the swerde for naughte. For he is the mynister of God, a taker of vengeaunce, to punyshe him that doth euell.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    For he is ye minister of God for thy wealth, but if thou do euill, feare: for he beareth not the sworde for nought: for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doeth euill.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    For he is the minister of God for thy wealth. But yf thou do euyll, feare: For he beareth not the sworde in vayne, for he is the minister of God, reuenger of wrath on hym that doth euyll.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • 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.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    because it is God’s servant for your well-being. But be afraid if you do wrong because government does not bear the sword for nothing. It is God’s servant to administer punishment on the person who does wrong.

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Chr 19:6 : 6 And said to the judges, Take heed what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
  • Rom 12:19 : 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' says the Lord.
  • 1 Thess 4:6 : 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
  • Prov 24:23-24 : 23 These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. 24 He who says to the wicked, You are righteous; him the people shall curse, nations shall abhor him.
  • Prov 31:8-9 : 8 Speak for those who cannot speak, in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
  • Eccl 8:2-5 : 2 I counsel you to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard to the oath of God. 3 Do not be hasty to go out of his presence; do not stand in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' 5 Whoever keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.
  • Isa 1:17 : 17 Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
  • Jer 5:28 : 28 They have grown fat, they shine: yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked: they do not judge the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy they do not judge.
  • Ezek 22:27 : 27 Her princes in its midst are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
  • Ezek 25:14 : 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 fury; and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD.
  • Mic 3:1-4 : 1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O leaders of Jacob, and you rulers of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know justice? 2 Who hate good and love evil; who strip their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; 3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, like meat for the pot, and like flesh within the cauldron. 4 Then they shall cry to the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, because they have done evil in their deeds.
  • Mic 3:9 : 9 Hear this, I pray you, you leaders of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
  • Ps 82:2-4 : 2 How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah. 3 Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them from the hand of the wicked.
  • Prov 16:14 : 14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
  • Prov 20:2 : 2 The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
  • Prov 20:8 : 8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
  • Prov 20:26 : 26 A wise king scatters the wicked and brings the wheel over them.
  • Num 35:19-27 : 19 The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meets him, he shall slay him. 20 But if he pushes him out of hatred, or hurls at him by lying in wait so that he dies; 21 Or in enmity strikes him with his hand, so that he dies, he who struck him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meets him. 22 But if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything upon him without lying in wait, 23 Or with any stone, by which a man may die, seeing him not, and throw it upon him, so that he dies, and was not his enemy, nor sought his harm: 24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments: 25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, where he had fled: and he shall abide in it until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the slayer shall at any time come outside the border of the city of his refuge, where he had fled; 27 And the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the city of his refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
  • Josh 20:9 : 9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger residing among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands before the congregation.
  • 1 Kgs 10:9 : 9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.
  • Rom 13:6 : 6 For this reason, pay your taxes also, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
  • Josh 20:5 : 5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand because he struck his neighbor unintentionally and did not hate him beforehand.

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%

    1Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God; the authorities that exist are ordained by God.

    2Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist shall bring judgment upon themselves.

    3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

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

    13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme,

    14Or to governors, as to those who are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

    15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

    16As free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

    17Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

    18Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

  • Rom 13:5-7
    3 verses
    80%

    5Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

    6For this reason, pay your taxes also, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.

    7Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

  • Job 19:29
    71%

    29Be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.

  • Titus 3:1
    71%

    1Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,

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

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

    13And who is he who will harm you if you are followers of what is good?

    14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. Do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled;

  • Rev 13:10
    69%

    10He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

  • 1 Tim 2:2-3
    2 verses
    68%

    2For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.

    3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

  • Rom 12:19
    67%

    19Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' says the Lord.

  • Ps 149:7
    67%

    7To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples;

  • Heb 13:17
    66%

    17Obey those who rule over you, and submit to them, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

  • 1 Tim 1:8-9
    2 verses
    66%

    8But we know that the law is good if a man uses it lawfully;

    9Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

  • Col 3:25
    66%

    25But he who does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done, and there is no partiality.

  • Job 13:11
    66%

    11Shall not his excellence make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you?

  • Luke 12:4-5
    2 verses
    66%

    4And I say to you my friends, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.

    5But I will warn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, who after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him.

  • Eph 6:5
    66%

    5Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;

  • 1 Pet 3:17
    65%

    17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

  • Col 4:1
    65%

    1Masters, give to your servants that which is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

  • Prov 16:14
    65%

    14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

  • Eccl 8:4
    65%

    4Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'

  • Lev 25:43
    65%

    43You shall not rule over him with rigor; but shall fear your God.

  • Eph 6:9
    65%

    9And, you masters, do the same things to them, refraining from threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

  • Ps 125:4
    65%

    4Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.

  • Ps 37:32
    65%

    32The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to slay him.

  • 2 Cor 13:10
    65%

    10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord has given me for edification, and not for destruction.

  • Prov 20:2
    65%

    2The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.

  • Rom 2:6
    65%

    6Who will render to each person according to his deeds:

  • 1 Pet 4:15
    65%

    15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a meddler in other people's matters.

  • Ps 110:5
    65%

    5The Lord at your right hand will strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

  • 1 Thess 5:15
    65%

    15See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone; but always pursue what is good, both for yourselves and for all.

  • Rom 2:13
    65%

    13For it is not the hearers of the law who are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

  • Col 3:22
    65%

    22Servants, obey in all things your earthly masters, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing God.

  • 1 Thess 4:6
    65%

    6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

  • Prov 14:35
    65%

    35The king's favor is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him who causes shame.

  • Rom 2:3
    65%

    3And do you think this, O man, who judges those who do such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?

  • Eccl 8:13
    65%

    13But it will not be well with the wicked, nor will he prolong his days, which are like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.