Romans 13:4

The ruler is God's servant for your good, but bears the sword to execute wrath on wrongdoers.

Cross-references · 22

• Rom 12:19Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
• 2 Chr 19:6and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh; and he is with you in the judgment.
• Prov 24:23–24These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
• Prov 20:2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
• Prov 16:14The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
• Isa 1:17Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”
• Ps 82:2–4“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
• 1 Th 4:6that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
• Rom 13:6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
• Jer 5:28They have grown fat. They shine; yes, they excel in deeds of wickedness. They don’t plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and they don’t judge the right of the needy.
• Ezek 25:14I will lay my vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord Yahweh.
• Mic 3:1–4I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice?
• Mic 3:9Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity.
• Ezek 22:27Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.
• Prov 20:8A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
• Eccl 8:2–5I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God.
• Num 35:19–27The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death.
• Prov 31:8–9Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
• Josh 20:9These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands trial before the congregation.
• 1 Kgs 10:9Blessed is Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
• Prov 20:26A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
• Josh 20:5If the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver up the man slayer into his hand; because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, and didn’t hate him before.

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