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1. Every soul is subject to a higher power,
for there is no power that is not designated by God. And the powers that are instituted,
are under God's commandment.
2. Therefore, whoever rises against this power, is rising up against God. And those
who rise against them, receive judgment.
3. For judges are not feared by those who perform good deeds, except [by those who
perform] evil deeds. Do you wish not to be afraid of power? Perform good deeds and
you will receive praises.
4. For this service is for God, except for you it is to perform good deeds. But if
you do evil, then be afraid. For the sword is not carried for nothing, for [the one
who wields] it is a servant of God, and the instrument of wrath to those who perform
evil.
5. This is why we are forced to submit, not in anticipation of wrath alone, except
due to our conscience also.
6. That is why you pay the head tax too. For they are servants of God, they too,
over whom they rule*.
7. Therefore, pay every human being according to his responsibility, to whoever needs
the head tax the head tax, and to whoever collects the revenue the revenue, and to
whoever provides protection from fear for fear, and to whoever out of honor for honor.
8. And with no human enter into obligation for anything, except love one another.
For whoever loves his companion fulfills the Law.
9. Also that which is commanded, that you shall not kill and you shall not fornicate
and you shall not steal and you shall not covet, and if there is another commandment,
through which the Manifestation is adhered to, to show mercy for your relations as
[though they were] yourselves.
10. Love of relations does not belie evil, because love is the fulfillment of the
Law.
11. And know this too, that the Age is at hand and the hour is as of now to wake
up from our sleep. For now Lives everlasting are much more imminent than when we
first believed.
12. The night is spent and daybreak is approaching. Let us thus retire the rituals
of the dark, and take up the attire of light.
13. And as in daylight we should always conduct ourselves properly, not in singing
and not in drunkenness and not in sleeping filthy and not enviously and destructively.
14. Except take on our Lord Jesus Christ, and do not abandon your flesh to lust.
*13:6 Lit. Ar. id. figure of speech: "Stand."
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