² I pray thee, the commandment of a king keep, even for the sake of the oath of God.

⁴³ and wherefore hast thou not kept the oath of Jehovah, and the charge that I charged upon thee?'

¹¹ an oath of Jehovah is between them both, that he hath not put forth his hand against the work of his neighbour, and its owner hath accepted, and he doth not repay;

⁷ and the king hath pity on Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, because of the oath of Jehovah that `is' between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul;

²⁴ and all the heads, and the mighty men, and also all the sons of king David have given a hand under Solomon the king;

²¹ Fear Jehovah, my son, and the king, With changers mix not up thyself,

¹³ And he taketh of the seed of the kingdom, And maketh with him a covenant, And bringeth him in to an oath, And the mighty of the land he hath taken,

¹⁴ That the kingdom may be humble, That it may not lift itself up, To keep his covenant -- that it may stand.

¹⁵ And he rebelleth against him, To send his messengers to Egypt, To give to him horses, and much people, Doth he prosper? doth he escape who is doing these things? And hath he broken covenant and escaped?

¹⁶ I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Doth he not -- in the place of the king who is causing him to reign, Whose oath he hath despised, And whose covenant he hath broken, With him -- in the midst of Babylon -- die?

¹⁷ And not with a great force, and with a numerous assembly, Doth Pharaoh maintain him in battle, By pouring out a mount, and in building a fortification, To cut off many souls.

¹⁸ And he despised the oath -- to break covenant, And lo, he hath given his hand, And all these he hath done, he escapeth not.

¹⁹ Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: I live -- Mine oath that he hath despised, And My covenant that he hath broken, Have I not put it on his head?

²⁰ And I have spread out for him My snare, And he hath been caught in My net, And I have brought him in to Babylon, And pleaded with him there his trespass, That he hath trespassed against Me.

¹ Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,

² so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God's ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment.

³ For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it,

⁴ for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.

⁵ Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience,

¹ Remind them to be subject to principalities and authorities, to obey rule, unto every good work to be ready,

¹³ Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,

¹⁴ whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

¹⁵ because, so is the will of God, doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men;

¹⁶ as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;

¹⁷ to all give ye honour; the brotherhood love ye; God fear ye; the king honour ye.