012:017 Pay back to no man evil for evil. Take thought for what is
right and seemly in every one's esteem.
012:018 If you can, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with
all the world.
012:019 Do not be revengeful, my dear friends, but give way before anger;
for it is written, "`Revenge belongs to Me: I will pay back,'
says the Lord."
012:020 On the contrary, therefore, if your enemy is hungry, give him food;
if he is thirsty, quench his thirst. For by doing this you
will be heaping burning coals upon his head.
012:021 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with goodness.
013:001 Let every individual be obedient to those who rule over him;
for no one is a ruler except by God's permission, and our present
rulers have had their rank and power assigned to them by Him.
013:002 Therefore the man who rebels against his ruler is resisting
God's will; and those who thus resist will bring
punishment upon themselves.
013:003 For judges and magistrates are to be feared not by right-doers
but by wrong-doers. You desire--do you not?--to have no reason
to fear your ruler. Well, do the thing that is right,
and then he will commend you.
013:004 For he is God's servant for your benefit. But if you do what
is wrong, be afraid. He does not wear the sword to no purpose:
he is God's servant--an administrator to inflict
punishment upon evil-doers.
013:005 We must obey therefore, not only in order to escape punishment,
but also for conscience' sake.
013:006 Why, this is really the reason you pay taxes; for tax-gatherers
are ministers of God, devoting their energies to this very work.
013:007 Pay promptly to all men what is due to them: taxes to those