Proverbs 4:5-13

New International Version

⁵Get wisdom,^(A) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^(B)
    love her, and she will watch over you.^(C)
⁷The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all^(D) you have,^[b] get understanding.^(E)
⁸Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.^(F)
⁹She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.^(G)”

¹⁰Listen, my son,^(H) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.^(I)
¹¹I instruct^(J) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.^(K)
¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.^(L)
¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.^(M)

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Footnotes

Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

Matthew 22:15-22

New International Version

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar^(A)

¹⁵Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. ¹⁶They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.^(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. ¹⁷Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax^[a]^(C) to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, ²⁰and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

²¹“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,^(D) and to God what is God’s.”

²²When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.^(E)

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