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[The pompous voice of the Teacher returns at this point and the reading of the paragraph should be performed accordingly.]
1 “Let the soul of every person be subjugated to the authoritative authorities. For there are no authorities except those which exist at the deity’s behest; those that exist are ordained by the deity.2 So then the terrorist resisting the authorities resists that which the deity has commanded, and those so resisting will receive judgment. 3 Rulers are not a terror for anyone who is a good worker but only for workers of evil. So if you wish to avoid the terror of the authorities then be a good boy and you will receive their public commendation. 4 They are ministers from the deity on your behalf working for good things. But if you produce evil, then shake with terror. They do not possess the weaponry of the state for mere show. They are avenging ministers of the deity’s rage against those who practice[i] evil. 5 So there is simply no avoiding the need to be subservient—because of the deity’s rage, and to act in all good conscience, as one should.”
6 “Because of these things[ii] you should also pay all your taxes—because they are servants of God devoted to this very thing. 7 Pay to everyone those debts you are obligated to pay: to those owed poll tax, pay poll tax; to those owed sales tax, pay sales tax; to those owed fear, pay fear; to those owed deference, pay deference.”
[i] Key term from ch. 1 and ch. 2 returning.
[ii] Gar in the Greek here may well denote further quotation or speech by a figure.