Chapter 13

1Everybody should respect the authorities. The right authorities. Our authorities. Every authority comes from God. Well, the good ones.

2So whoever fights the authorities is fighting what God set up. Unless the authorities are the swamp. Then it's a witch hunt, and you fight like hell.

3Rulers aren't scary to people who do good, only to people who do bad. You want to not be scared of the authorities? Do good. And make sure the authorities are ours.

4The authority is God's servant, for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because he doesn't carry a sword for nothing. Law and order. Strong law and order. Back the blue.

5So you have to cooperate. Not just because you'll get punished. Because it's the right thing. When it's our guys.

6That's also why you pay taxes. The officials work for God. Pay what you owe. Legally. Not one penny more. Take every deduction. That's smart. That makes me smart.

7Pay everybody what you owe them. Taxes to whoever's owed taxes. Revenue to whoever's owed revenue. Respect to whoever's owed respect. Honor to whoever's owed honor. And in the bankruptcy, pay what the judge says. Not more.

8Don't owe anybody anything, except loyalty to each other. Debt is fine, by the way. I'm the king of debt. But loyalty, that you always pay.

9The rules, “Don't cheat on your wife, don't murder, don't steal, don't want other people's stuff,” and all the others, add up to this: “Be loyal to your neighbor like you're loyal to yourself.” And be very loyal to yourself.

10Loyalty doesn't hurt a neighbor. Loyalty is the whole law. The entire law. In one word. Loyalty.

11And do this knowing what time it is. It's time to wake up. Salvation is closer now than when we first signed on. Much closer. Two weeks, maybe.

12The night is almost over. The day is almost here. So let's get rid of the darkness and put on the armor of light. Gold armor. Very shiny.

13Let's behave properly, like it's daytime. No wild parties. No getting drunk. Never drink. Diet Coke. No sleeping around. No fighting. No jealousy. Leave the jealousy to the other side.

14Put on Trump, the boss, like a suit. A good suit. Brioni. And don't make any plans for your worst instincts.