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.

作官的原不是叫行善的惧怕，乃是叫作恶的惧怕。你愿意不惧怕掌权的吗？你只要行善，就可得他的称赞；

作官的原不是要使行善的惧怕，而是要使作恶的惧怕。你愿意不惧怕掌权的吗？只要行善，你就可得他的称赞；

作官的原不是要使行善的惧怕，而是要使作恶的惧怕。你愿意不惧怕掌权的吗？只要行善，你就可得他的称赞；

掌权者不是叫行善的惧怕，而是叫作恶的惧怕。你想不怕掌权的吗？就要行得正，这样你会得到称赞。

执政的不是要使行善的惧怕，而是要使作恶的惧怕。你想不怕掌权的吗？只要行善，就会得到称赞；

事实上，对良善的行为，掌权者并不是可怕的；而对邪恶的行为，他才是可怕的。那么，你想要不惧怕掌权的，就应当做良善的事。这样，你就会得到他的称赞。

作官的原不是叫行善的懼怕，乃是叫作惡的懼怕。你願意不懼怕掌權的嗎？你只要行善，就可得他的稱讚；

作官的原不是要使行善的懼怕，而是要使作惡的懼怕。你願意不懼怕掌權的嗎？只要行善，你就可得他的稱讚；

作官的原不是要使行善的懼怕，而是要使作惡的懼怕。你願意不懼怕掌權的嗎？只要行善，你就可得他的稱讚；

掌權者不是叫行善的懼怕，而是叫作惡的懼怕。你想不怕掌權的嗎？就要行得正，這樣你會得到稱讚。

執政的不是要使行善的懼怕，而是要使作惡的懼怕。你想不怕掌權的嗎？只要行善，就會得到稱讚；

作官的原不是叫有善行的懼怕，乃是叫有惡行的懼怕。你願意不懼怕政權麼？須要行善，就可以從它得讚許；

事實上，對良善的行為，掌權者並不是可怕的；而對邪惡的行為，他才是可怕的。那麼，你想要不懼怕掌權的，就應當做良善的事。這樣，你就會得到他的稱讚。

蓋有司非行善者所畏、乃行惡者所畏耳、爾欲弗畏權、惟行善則得其褒、

有司不令善人畏、使惡人畏、爾欲不畏居位者、惟行善、可得其褒、

有司非使行善者畏、乃使行惡者畏、爾欲不畏秉權者乎、惟行善、則可得其褒獎、

夫官長之可懼、惟於犯罪作惡者為然。苟能守分安己、亦何懼之有？爾願不惴其權威乎？則宜行善。如此彼將賞爾之不暇、奚遑加爾以刑哉！

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

For 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.

For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

( for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation,

For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority,

A king’s anger brings terror like a lion’s roar. Anyone who makes him angry may lose their life.

Suppose two people don’t agree about something. Then they must take their case to court. The judges will decide the case. They will let the one who isn’t guilty go free. And they will punish the one who is guilty.

Suppose a ruler gets very angry with you. If he does, don’t quit your job in the palace. Being calm can overcome what you have done against him.Here’s something evil I’ve seen on this earth. And it’s the kind of mistake that rulers make.Foolish people are given many important jobs. Rich people are given unimportant ones.

A king is pleased with a wise servant. But a servant who is full of shame stirs up the king’s anger.

“ Jehoiakim, does having more and more cedar boards make you a king? Your father Josiah had enough to eat and drink. He did what was right and fair. So everything went well with him.He stood up for those who were poor or needy. So everything went well with him. That is what it means to know me,” announces the Lord.“ Jehoiakim, the only thing on your mind is to get rich by cheating others. You would even kill people who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. You would mistreat them. You would take everything they own.”So the Lord speaks about King Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah. He says,“ His people will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor brother! My poor sister!’ They will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor master! How sad that his glory is gone!’

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.

Who is going to hurt you if you really want to do good?But suppose you do suffer for doing what is right. Even then you will be blessed. Scripture says,“ Don’t fear what others say they will do to hurt you. Don’t be afraid.”( Isaiah 8:12)

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.