They cameand saidto Him, "Teacher,we knowthat You are truthfuland deferto no one;for You are not partialto any,but teachthe wayof Godin truth.Is it lawfulto paya poll-taxto Caesar,ornot?
But Micaiahsaid,"As the LORDlives,whatmy Godsays,that I will speak."
"Nowthen let the fearof the LORDbe upon you; be very carefulwhat you do,for the LORDour Godwill havenopart in unrighteousnessor partialityor the takingof a bribe."
"Its abundantproduceis for the kingsWhomYou have setoverus because of our sins;They also ruleoverour bodiesAnd over our cattleas they please,So we are in greatdistress.
Delivermy soul,O LORD,from lyinglips,From a deceitfultongue.
His speechwas smootherthanbutter,But his heartwas war;His wordswere softerthanoil,Yet they were drawnswords.
For you have [only] deceivedyourselves;for it is you who sentme to the LORDyour God,saying,"Prayfor us to the LORDour God;and whateverthe LORDour Godsays,tellus so,and we will doit."
On the otherhandI am filledwith power--With the Spiritof the LORD--And with justiceand courageTo makeknownto Jacobhis rebelliousact,Even to Israelhis sin.
And they senttheir disciplesto Him, along with the Herodians,saying,"Teacher,we knowthat You are truthfuland teachthe wayof Godin truth,and deferto no one;for You are not partialto any.
"Tellus then,whatdo You think?Is it lawfulto givea poll-taxto Caesar,ornot?"
Thenthey sentsomeof the Phariseesand Herodiansto Him in orderto trapHim in a statement.
"Shall we payorshall we not pay?"But He, knowingtheir hypocrisy,saidto them, "Whyare you testingMe? BringMe a denariusto lookat."
After coming,Judas immediatelywentto Him, saying,"Rabbi!"and kissedHim.
"Is it lawfulfor us to paytaxesto Caesar,ornot?"
And they beganto accuseHim, saying,"We foundthis manmisleadingour nationand forbiddingto paytaxesto Caesar,and sayingthat He Himselfis Christ,a King."
"He who speaksfrom himselfseekshis ownglory;but He who is seekingthe gloryof the One who sentHim, He is true,and there is nounrighteousnessin Him.
For becauseof thisyou alsopaytaxes,for [rulers] are servantsof God,devoting themselvesto thisverything.
For we are not likemany,peddlingthe wordof God,but as from sincerity,but as from God,we speakin Christin the sightof God.
For ifI causeyou sorrow,whothenmakes me gladbut the one whom I made sorrowful?
Therefore,since we havethisministry,as we received mercy,we do not lose heart,
Therefore,knowingthe fearof the Lord,we persuademen,but we are mademanifestto God;and I hopethat we are made manifestalsoin your consciences.
Thereforefrom nowon we recognizeno oneaccordingto the flesh;eventhoughwe have knownChristaccordingto the flesh,yetnowwe know[Him] [in this way] no longer.
For am I nowseeking the favorof men,orof God?Oram I strivingto pleasemen?IfI were stilltrying to pleasemen,I would not be a bond-servantof Christ.
But from thosewho were of highreputation(whatthey were makesnodifferenceto me; Godshowsnopartiality)--well,thosewho were of reputationcontributednothingto me.
"You shall not distortjustice;you shall not be partial,and you shall not takea bribe,for a bribeblindsthe eyesof the wiseand pervertsthe wordsof the righteous.
but justas we have been approvedby Godto be entrustedwith the gospel,sowe speak,not as pleasingmen,but Godwho examinesour hearts.
