Mark 12:13-17

New International Version

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar^(A)

¹³Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians^(B) to Jesus to catch him^(C) in his words. ¹⁴They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax^[a] to Caesar or not? ¹⁵Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” ¹⁶They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

¹⁷Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”^(D)

And they were amazed at him.

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Footnotes

Mark 12:14 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens

Psalm 97

New International Version

Psalm 97

¹The Lord reigns,^(A) let the earth be glad;^(B)
    let the distant shores^(C) rejoice.
²Clouds^(D) and thick darkness^(E) surround him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.^(F)
³Fire^(G) goes before^(H) him
    and consumes^(I) his foes on every side.
⁴His lightning^(J) lights up the world;
    the earth^(K) sees and trembles.^(L)
⁵The mountains melt^(M) like wax^(N) before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.^(O)
⁶The heavens proclaim his righteousness,^(P)
    and all peoples see his glory.^(Q)

⁷All who worship images^(R) are put to shame,^(S)
those who boast in idols^(T)—
worship him,^(U) all you gods!^(V)

⁸Zion hears and rejoices
    and the villages of Judah are glad^(W)
    because of your judgments,^(X) Lord.
⁹For you, Lord, are the Most High^(Y) over all the earth;^(Z)
    you are exalted^(AA) far above all gods.
¹⁰Let those who love the Lord hate evil,^(AB)
    for he guards^(AC) the lives of his faithful ones^(AD)
    and delivers^(AE) them from the hand of the wicked.^(AF)
¹¹Light shines^[a]^(AG) on the righteous^(AH)
    and joy on the upright in heart.^(AI)
¹²Rejoice in the Lord,^(AJ) you who are righteous,
    and praise his holy name.^(AK)