Verse 4

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.

Other Translations

• Bibeloversettelse fra KJV1611 og Textus Receptus

  For han er Guds tjener for deg til det gode. Men hvis du gjør det som er ondt, så vær redd; for han bærer ikke sverdet forgjeves; for han er Guds tjener, en hevner som utfører vrede mot den som gjør ondt.

• NT, oversatt fra gresk

  For den er Guds tjener for ditt beste. Men hvis du gjør ondt, frykt; for den bærer ikke sverd uten grunn, for den er Guds tjener, en hevner som utøver Guds straff mot den som gjør ondt.

• Norsk King James

  For han er Guds tjener for deg til gode. Men hvis du gjør det som er ondt, da bør du være redd; for han bærer ikke sverdet uten mening; han er Guds tjener, en hevner som straffer den som gjør ondt.

• Modernisert Norsk Bibel 1866

  For den er Guds tjener, til ditt beste. Men dersom du gjør det onde, vær redd, for den bærer ikke sverdet for ingenting. Den er Guds tjener, en hevner til straff over den som gjør det onde.

• KJV/Textus Receptus til norsk

  For den er Guds tjener, deg til gode. Men gjør du det onde, frykt da: for den bærer ikke sverdet forgjeves: den er nemlig Guds tjener, en hevner til straff over den som gjør det onde.

• Den norske oversettelsen av Det Nye Testamente

  For den er Guds tjener til ditt beste. Men hvis du gjør det onde, så frykt! For den bærer ikke sverdet uten grunn; den er Guds tjener, en hevner som skal utøve vrede over den som gjør det onde.

• Bibelen: En Moderne Oversettelse av King James Version 1611

  For myndigheten er Guds tjener til det gode for deg. Men gjør du det onde, skal du frykte, for den bærer ikke sverdet forgjeves; den er Guds tjener, en hevner som fullbyrder straffen over den som gjør det onde.

• o3-mini KJV Norsk

  For han er Guds tjener for ditt beste. Men om du gjør det ondt, skal du frykte; for han bærer ikke sverdet uten grunn, men er Guds tjener, en hevner som utøver vrede over den som gjør ondt.

• gpt4.5-preview

  For myndigheten er Guds tjener til ditt beste. Men gjør du det onde, skal du være redd. For det er ikke uten grunn at den bærer sverdet; den er nemlig Guds tjener, en hevner til å utøve vrede over den som gjør ondt.

• En Moderne Oversettelse av King James Version 1611 (mar 2025)

  For myndigheten er Guds tjener til ditt beste. Men gjør du det onde, skal du være redd. For det er ikke uten grunn at den bærer sverdet; den er nemlig Guds tjener, en hevner til å utøve vrede over den som gjør ondt.

• Lingvistisk bibeloversettelse fra grunntekst

  For den er Guds tjener, til det gode for deg. Men gjør du det onde, så frykt, for den bærer ikke sverdet forgjeves. Den er Guds tjener, en hevner til straff for den som gjør ondt.

• 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.

• biblecontext

  { "verseID": "Romans.13.4", "source": "Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστίν σοι εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. Ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, φοβοῦ· οὐ γὰρ εἰκῆ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ: Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν, ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι.", "text": "Of *Theou gar diakonos estin* to you for the *agathon*. *Ean de* the *kakon poiēs*, *phobou*; not *gar eikē* the *machairan phorei*: of *Theou gar diakonos estin*, *ekdikos* for *orgēn* to the one the *kakon prassonti*.", "grammar": { "*Theou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of God", "*gar*": "postpositive conjunction - for/because", "*diakonos*": "nominative, masculine/feminine, singular - servant/minister", "*estin*": "present indicative, 3rd singular - is", "*agathon*": "accusative, neuter, singular - good", "*Ean*": "conditional conjunction - if", "*de*": "postpositive conjunction - but/and/now", "*kakon*": "accusative, neuter, singular - evil/bad", "*poiēs*": "present active subjunctive, 2nd singular - you do/practice", "*phobou*": "present middle/passive imperative, 2nd singular - fear/be afraid", "*eikē*": "adverb - in vain/without purpose", "*machairan*": "accusative, feminine, singular - sword", "*phorei*": "present active indicative, 3rd singular - bears/wears/carries", "*ekdikos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - avenger/punisher", "*orgēn*": "accusative, feminine, singular - wrath/anger", "*prassonti*": "present active participle, dative, masculine, singular - practicing/doing" }, "variants": { "*diakonos*": "servant/minister/deacon/agent", "*agathon*": "good/beneficial/noble", "*kakon*": "evil/bad/wrong/harmful", "*phobou*": "fear/be afraid/dread", "*eikē*": "in vain/without purpose/without reason", "*machairan*": "sword/knife", "*phorei*": "bears/carries/wears", "*ekdikos*": "avenger/punisher/executor of justice", "*orgēn*": "wrath/anger/indignation", "*prassonti*": "practicing/doing/performing" } }

• NT, oversatt fra gresk Aug2024

  For den er Guds tjener til beste for deg. Men hvis du gjør det onde, vær redd; for den bærer ikke sverdet uten grunn. Den er Guds tjener, en hevner til å utøve vrede over den som gjør det onde.

• Original Norsk Bibel 1866

  Thi den er Guds Tjener, dig til Gode. Men dersom du gjør det, som er ondt, da frygt dig, thi den bærer ikke Sværdet forgjæves; thi den er Guds Tjener, en Hevner til Straf over den, som gjør det Onde.

• 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.

• KJV 1769 norsk

  For den er Guds tjener til det gode for deg. Men hvis du gjør det onde, skal du frykte, for den bærer ikke sverdet uten grunn. Den er Guds tjener, en hevner til straff for den som gjør det onde.

• Norsk oversettelse av Webster

  for han er en Guds tjener til det gode for deg. Men hvis du gjør det onde, frykt, for han bærer ikke sverdet for ingenting; han er en Guds tjener, en hevner til vrede over den som gjør det onde.

• Norsk oversettelse av Youngs Literal Translation

  For myndigheten er en Guds tjener til beste for deg. Men hvis du gjør det onde, skal du frykte, for den bærer ikke sverdet uten grunn; den er Guds tjener, en hevner til vrede over den som gjør det onde.

• Norsk oversettelse av ASV1901

  For den er Guds tjener til det gode for deg. Men gjør du det onde, skal du være redd; for den bærer ikke sverdet uten grunn. Den er Guds tjener, en hevner som fører Guds vrede over den som gjør det onde.

• Norsk oversettelse av BBE

  For myndigheten er Guds tjener til det gode for deg. Men gjør du det onde, har du grunn til å frykte; for sverdet er ikke båret uten grunn: myndigheten er Guds tjener, som bringer Guds straff over den onde.

• 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.

• 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.