What Does the Bible Say About Paying Debt?

Romans 13:7-8 ESV / 95 helpful votes

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Psalm 37:21 ESV / 70 helpful votes

The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

Proverbs 3:27-28 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

Romans 13:5-7 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Ecclesiastes 5:5 ESV / 35 helpful votes

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Proverbs 22:7 ESV / 27 helpful votes

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Romans 13:8 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Numbers 30:2 ESV / 23 helpful votes

If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Romans 13:7 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Leviticus 19:11 ESV / 12 helpful votes

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.

Matthew 22:17-21 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 10 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Proverbs 22:1 ESV / 8 helpful votes

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

Leviticus 19:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.

James 2:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Luke 7:1-50 ESV / 2 helpful votes

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” ...

Romans 6:23 ESV / 1 helpful vote

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Bible Verses about Paying Debt