⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(A) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^{(B) 20} and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^[b](C)

Paying Taxes to Caesar^(A)

²⁰ Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,^(B) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.^{(C) 21} So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.^(D)

⁵ eighty men who had shaved off their beards,^(A) torn their clothes^(B) and cut^(C) themselves came from Shechem,^(D) Shiloh^(E) and Samaria,^(F) bringing grain offerings and incense^(G) with them to the house of the Lord.^{(H) 6} Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping^(I) as he went. When he met them, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.”^{(J) 7} When they went into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.^(K)

⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!”^(A) and kissed him.