13:3a

For: This word introduces an explanation of incurring judgment in 13:2b.

rulers: This word refers to the governing authorities in 13:1–2. Using this new word, some languages might need to explicitly connect it to those people in 13:1–2. For example:

⌊those⌋ rulers

are not a terror: This refers to not being someone that people are afraid of. Some languages must explain how the word terror is used here. For example:

are not a cause of fear (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
are not people to be feared

terror: This word generally means “fear.” Here it refers to the fear of being caught and punished for doing something bad.

to good conduct: Here the word conduct refers to what one does. For example:

to good deeds/behavior

In some languages it will be more natural to make explicit that it is people doing this good conduct. For example:

to ⌊people who do⌋ good things

but to bad: This indicates that rulers are a terror to people who have bad conduct. Some languages must add some or all of the words missing from the Greek and the English. For example:

but to bad conduct
-or-
but to ⌊the one who does⌋ evil
-or-
but he is a terror to ⌊the person who has⌋ bad conduct

13:3b

Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority?: The Greek is more literally “Do you (sing.) want to not fear the authority?” It is a rhetorical question. It introduces the topic of how to have no fear of people in authority. Paul himself answered how in 13:3c. Here are other ways to translate these words:

Do you want to have no fear of authority?
-or-
Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? (New International Version)
-or-
if you want to live with no fear of authority (New Jerusalem Bible)

13:3c

Then do what is right: The Greek is more literally “Do the good.” It is the answer to how to not fear people in authority. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Do good (NET Bible)
-or-
Then you must do good deeds/things

right: The Greek word refers to what is morally good. For example, helping the poor is morally good, but stealing is not, even though the thief might think it is good for himself.

13:3d

you will have his approval: The Greek is literally “you (sing.) will have praise from it.” The word “it” refers to the authority in 13:3b and implies the person holding that authority. Here the word his refers in general to that person. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he will commend you (New International Version)
-or-
they will praise you (Good News Translation)

approval: This word refers to words saying someone is good. Here it is praise for doing good.

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