¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and had a meeting to see how they might make use of his words to take him.

²⁰ And they kept watch on him, and sent out secret representatives, who were acting the part of good men, in order that they might get something from his words, on account of which they might give him up to the government and into the power of the ruler.

²¹ And they put a question to him, saying, Master, we are certain that your teaching and your words are right, and that you have no respect for a man's position, but you are teaching the true way of God:

²² Is it right for us to make payment of taxes to Caesar or not?

²³ But he saw through their trick and said to them,

²⁴ Let me see a penny. Whose image and name are on it? And they said, Caesar's.

²⁵ And he said, Then give to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.

²⁶ And they were not able to get anything from these words before the people: but they were full of wonder at his answer, and said nothing.

¹³ Then they sent to him certain of the Pharisees and the Herodians, so that they might make use of his words to take him by a trick.

¹⁴ And when they had come, they said to him, Master, we are certain that you are true, and have no fear of anyone: you have no respect for a man's position, but you are teaching the true way of God: Is it right to give taxes to Caesar or not?

¹⁵ Are we to give or not to give? But he, conscious of their false hearts, said to them, Why do you put me to the test? give me a penny, so that I may see it.

¹⁶ And they gave him one. And he said to them, Whose is this image and name on it? And they said to him, Caesar's.

¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, Give to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's. And they were full of wonder at him.

³ Give thought to him who has undergone so much of the hate of sinners against himself, so that you may not be tired and feeble of purpose.

⁵³ And when he had come out of that place, the scribes and the Pharisees came round him angrily, questioning him about more things;

⁵⁴ And watching him, for a chance to get something from his words which might be used against him.

¹⁰ For numbers of them say evil secretly in my hearing (there is fear on every side): they say, Come, let us give witness against him; all my nearest friends, who are watching for my fall, say, It may be that he will be taken by deceit, and we will get the better of him and give him punishment.

¹⁸ Then they said, Come, let us make a design against Jeremiah; for teaching will never be cut off from the priest, or wisdom from the wise, or the word from the prophet. Come, let us make use of his words for an attack on him, and let us give attention with care to what he says.

²¹ Who give help to a man in a wrong cause, and who put a net for the feet of him who gives decisions in the public place, taking away a man's right without cause.

³ For see, they are watching in secret for my soul; the strong have come together against me? but not because of my sin, or my evil-doing, O Lord.

⁶ They have made ready a net for my steps; my soul is bent down; they have made a great hole before me, and have gone down into it themselves. (Selah.)

⁵ Every day they make wrong use of my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

⁶ They come together, they are waiting in secret places, they take note of my steps, they are waiting for my soul.

⁷ By evil-doing they will not get free from punishment. In wrath, O God, let the peoples be made low.

⁶ If one comes to see me, deceit is in his heart; he keeps a store of evil, which he makes public in every place.

² The kings of the earth have taken their place, and the rulers are fixed in their purpose, against the Lord, and against the king of his selection, saying,