I’m telling you to obey the king’s command. You promised to serve him. You made a promise to God.

我劝你遵守王的命令；既指神起誓，理当如此。

我劝你因上帝誓言的缘故，当遵守王的命令。

我劝你因神誓言的缘故，当遵守王的命令。

我劝你遵守王的命令，因为你曾在上帝面前这样发誓。

我劝你，因为你指着神起了誓，你就要遵守王的命令。

我劝你遵守王的命令，因为你向神起了誓；

我勸你遵守王的命令；既指神起誓，理當如此。

我勸你因上帝誓言的緣故，當遵守王的命令。

我勸你因神誓言的緣故，當遵守王的命令。

我勸你遵守王的命令，因為你曾在上帝面前這樣發誓。

我勸你，因為你指著神起了誓，你就要遵守王的命令。

王的命令你要遵守，這是為了你曾指着上帝來起誓的緣故。

我勸你遵守王的命令，因為你向神起了誓；

我曰、當守王命、因指上帝而誓矣、

既指上帝而誓、必守王命、勿謀不軌、勿致位而不辭、爾若是、恐干王怒、蓋發號出令、由王獨斷。

我言爾當守王命、既指天主而誓、自當如此、

Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God.

I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.

Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would.

Keep the king’s command because of your oath made before God.

I say,“ Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.

I say,“ Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God.

I counsel thee, Keep the king’s command, and that in regard of the oath of God.

Keep the king’s command because of your oath made before God.

I[ counsel thee] to keep the king’s commandment, and[ that] in regard of the oath of God.

Obey the king’s command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.

I say,“ Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God.

So why didn’t you keep your promise to the Lord? Why didn’t you obey the command I gave you?”

Follow the lead of every human authority. Do this for the Lord’s sake. Obey the emperor. He is the highest authority.Obey the governors. The emperor sends them to punish those who do wrong. He also sends them to praise those who do right.By doing good you will put a stop to the talk of foolish people. They don’t know what they are saying.Live as free people. But don’t use your freedom to cover up evil. Live as people who are God’s slaves.Show proper respect to everyone. Love the family of believers. Have respect for God. Honor the emperor.

The king spared Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul. David had made a promise in front of the Lord. He had promised to be kind to Jonathan and the family line of his father Saul.

Then Nebuchadnezzar made a peace treaty with Zedekiah. He was a member of Jerusalem’s royal family. Nebuchadnezzar made him promise he would keep the treaty. He also took away the leading men of the land as prisoners.He did it to bring down their kingdom. It would not rise again. In fact, it would be able to last only by keeping his treaty.But Zedekiah turned against him. He sent messengers to Egypt. They went there to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does things like that escape? Can he break the peace treaty and still escape?“‘ Zedekiah will die in Babylon,’ announces the Lord and King.‘ And that is just as sure as I am alive. He will die in the land of King Nebuchadnezzar, who put him on the throne. Zedekiah didn’t keep his promise to Nebuchadnezzar and broke his treaty.So Nebuchadnezzar will build ramps against the walls of Jerusalem. He will set up war machines to destroy many lives. Pharaoh will not be able to help Zedekiah during the war. The huge and mighty army of Egypt will not be of any help.Zedekiah didn’t keep his promise to Nebuchadnezzar and broke his treaty. Zedekiah had made a firm promise to keep it. But he broke it anyway. So he will not escape.“‘ The Lord and King says,“ Zedekiah didn’t keep the promise he made in my name. He broke the treaty. So I will pay him back. And that is just as sure as I am alive.I will spread out my net to catch him. He will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon. I will judge him there because he was not faithful to me.

My son, have respect for the Lord and the king. Don’t join with officials who disobey them.

All of you must obey those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God.So whoever opposes the authorities opposes leaders whom God has appointed. Those who do that will be judged.If you do what is right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But watch out if you do what is wrong! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what is right, and you will be praised.The one in authority serves God for your good. But if you do wrong, watch out! Rulers don’t carry a sword for no reason at all. They serve God. And God is carrying out his anger through them. The ruler punishes anyone who does wrong.You must obey the authorities. Then you will not be punished. You must also obey them because you know it is right.

Then the problem will be settled by promising the Lord to tell the truth. Suppose the neighbor says,‘ I didn’t steal your property.’ Then the owner must accept what the neighbor says. No payment is required.

All the officers and warriors promised to be completely faithful to King Solomon. So did all of King David’s sons.

Remind God’s people to obey rulers and authorities. Remind them to be ready to do what is good.