Omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus subdita sit: non est enim potestas nisi a Deo: quæ autem sunt, a Deo ordinatæ sunt.

Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God.

Every soul must be submissive to its lawful superiors; authority comes from God only, and all authorities that hold sway are of his ordinance.

Itaque qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit. Qui autem resistunt, ipsi sibi damnationem acquirunt:

Therefore he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, purchase to themselves damnation.

Thus the man who opposes authority is a rebel against the ordinance of God, and rebels secure their own condemnation.

nam principes non sunt timori boni operis, sed mali. Vis autem non timere potestatem? Bonum fac: et habebis laudem ex illa:

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

A good conscience has no need to go in fear of the magistrate, as a bad conscience does. If thou wouldst be free from the fear of authority, do right, and thou shalt win its approval;

Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum. Si autem malum feceris, time: non enim sine causa gladium portat. Dei enim minister est: vindex in iram ei qui malum agit.

For he is God’s minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God’s minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.

the magistrate is God’s minister, working for thy good. Only if thou dost wrong, needst thou be afraid; it is not for nothing that he bears the sword; he is God’s minister still, to inflict punishment on the wrong-doer.

Ideo necessitate subditi estote non solum propter iram, sed etiam propter conscientiam.

Wherefore be subject of necessity, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

Thou must needs, then, be submissive, not only for fear of punishment, but in conscience.

Ideo enim et tributa præstatis: ministri enim Dei sunt, in hoc ipsum servientes.

For therefore also you pay tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving unto this purpose.

It is for this same reason that you pay taxes; magistrates are in God’s service, and must give all their time to it.

Reddite ergo omnibus debita: cui tributum, tributum: cui vectigal, vectigal: cui timorem, timorem: cui honorem, honorem.

Render therefore to all men their dues. Tribute, to whom tribute is due: custom, to whom custom: fear, to whom fear: honour, to whom honour.

Pay every man, then, his due; taxes, if it be taxes, customs, if it be customs; respect and honour, if it be respect and honour.

Nemini quidquam debeatis, nisi ut invicem diligatis: qui enim diligit proximum, legem implevit.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law.

Do not let anybody have a claim upon you, except the claim which binds us to love one another. The man who loves his neighbour has done all that the law demands.

Nam: Non adulterabis: non occides: non furaberis: non falsum testimonium dices: non concupisces: et si quod est aliud mandatum, in hoc verbo instauratur: diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum.

For Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness: Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other commandment, it is comprised in this word, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

(All the commandments, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and the rest, are resumed in this one saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.)

Dilectio proximi malum non operatur. Plenitudo ergo legis est dilectio.

The love of our neighbour worketh no evil. Love therefore is the fulfilling of the law.

Love of our neighbour refrains from doing harm of any kind; that is why it fulfils all the demands of the law.

Et hoc scientes tempus: quia hora est jam nos de somno surgere. Nunc enim propior est nostra salus, quam cum credidimus.

And that knowing the season; that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.

Meanwhile, make no mistake about the age we live in; already it is high time for us to awake out of our sleep; our salvation is closer to us now than when we first learned to believe.

Nox præcessit, dies autem appropinquavit. Abjiciamus ergo opera tenebrarum, et induamur arma lucis.

The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let us, therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light.

The night is far on its course; day draws near. Let us abandon the ways of darkness, and put on the armour of light.

Sicut in die honeste ambulemus: non in comessationibus, et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus, et impudicitiis, non in contentione, et æmulatione:

Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy:

Let us pass our time honourably, as by the light of day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not in quarrels and rivalries.

sed induimini Dominum Jesum Christum, et carnis curam ne feceritis in desideriis.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences.

Rather, arm yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ; spend no more thought on nature and nature’s appetites.