presidents

¹Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God. ²And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves. ³For leaders are not a source of fear to those who work good, but to those who work evil. And would you prefer not to be afraid of authority? Then do what is good, and you shall have praise from them. ⁴For he is a minister of God for you unto good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid. For it is not without reason that he carries a sword. For he is a minister of God; an avenger to execute wrath upon whomever does evil. ⁵For this reason, it is necessary to be subject, not solely because of wrath, but also because of conscience. ⁶Therefore, you must also offer tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving him in this.

¹And so I beg you, first of all, to make supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings for all men, ²for kings, and for all who are in high places, so that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all piety and chastity.

²Because of the sins of the land, it has many princes. And because of the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the leader shall be prolonged.

⁸Jesus Christ, yesterday and today; Jesus Christ forever.

¹Behold, the king will reign in justice, and the princes will rule in judgment. ²And a man will be like someone hidden from the wind, who conceals himself from a storm, or like rivers of waters in a time of thirst, or like the shadow of a rock that juts out in a desert land. ³The eyes of those who see will not be obscured, and the ears of those who hear will listen closely. ⁴And the heart of the foolish will understand knowledge, and the tongue of those with impaired speech will speak quickly and plainly. ⁵He who is foolish will no longer be called leader, nor will the deceitful be called greater. ⁶For a foolish man speaks foolishness and his heart works iniquity in order to accomplish deception. And he speaks to the Lord deceitfully, so as to empty the soul of the hungry and to take away drink from the thirsty.

¹Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God.

³All things were made through Him, and nothing that was made was made without Him.

⁶For I am the Lord, and I do not change. And you, the sons of Jacob, have not been consumed.

¹²Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance.

⁴And Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”

⁴⁶But why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say?

¹⁶All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice,

¹⁴and if my people, over whom my name has been invoked, being converted, will have petitioned me and sought my face, and will have done penance for their wicked ways, then I will heed them from heaven, and I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land.

¹⁶All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work.