That’s also why you pay taxes. The authorities serve God. Ruling takes up all their time.

你们纳粮，也为这个缘故；因他们是神的差役，常常特管这事。

你们纳粮也为这个缘故，因他们是上帝的仆役，专管这事。

你们纳粮也为这个缘故，因他们是神的仆役，专管这事。

你们纳税也是为了同样的缘故，因为官长是上帝的仆人，负责管理这类事务。

因此，你们也当纳税，因为他们是神的差役，专责处理这事的。

其实你们纳税，也是为了这缘故；因为他们是神的仆役，正是为此专心服事。

你們納糧，也為這個緣故；因他們是神的差役，常常特管這事。

你們納糧也為這個緣故，因他們是上帝的僕役，專管這事。

你們納糧也為這個緣故，因他們是神的僕役，專管這事。

你們納稅也是為了同樣的緣故，因為官長是上帝的僕人，負責管理這類事務。

因此，你們也當納稅，因為他們是神的差役，專責處理這事的。

你們納貢銀、也是為了這個緣故，因為他們是上帝的差役，時常專務的正是這事。

其實你們納稅，也是為了這緣故；因為他們是神的僕役，正是為此專心服事。

是以爾亦輸稅、蓋彼乃上帝之有司、恆執斯役、

是宜輸稅、居位者上帝之執事、恆執斯役、

爾曹納稅、亦為是故、蓋秉權者、乃天主之役、常理此事、

因是亦不可不輸稅；蓋彼既為天主之有司、課稅亦為其所掌也。

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.

For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing.

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks.

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing.

For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.

David ruled over the whole nation of Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people.

So the spies questioned Jesus.“ Teacher,” they said,“ we know that you speak and teach what is right. We know you don’t favor one person over another. You teach the way of God truthfully.Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”Jesus saw they were trying to trick him. So he said to them,“ Show me a silver coin. Whose picture and words are on it?”“ Caesar’s,” they replied.He said to them,“ Then give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.”They were not able to trap him with what he had said there in front of all the people. Amazed by his answer, they became silent.

Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not?”But Jesus knew their evil plans. He said,“ You pretenders! Why are you trying to trap me?Show me the coin people use for paying the tax.” They brought him a silver coin.He asked them,“ Whose picture is this? And whose words?”“ Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them,“ So give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.”

They came to him and said,“ Teacher, we know that you are a man of honor. You don’t let other people tell you what to do or say. You don’t care how important they are. But you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not?Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew what they were trying to do. So he asked,“ Why are you trying to trap me? Bring me a silver coin. Let me look at it.”They brought the coin. He asked them,“ Whose picture is this? And whose words?”“ Caesar’s,” they replied.Then Jesus said to them,“ Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.” They were amazed at him.

Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum. There the people who collect the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him,“ Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”“ Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke first.“ What do you think, Simon?” he asked.“ Who do the kings of the earth collect taxes and fees from? Do they collect them from their own children or from others?”“ From others,” Peter answered.“ Then the children don’t have to pay,” Jesus said to him.“ But we don’t want to make them angry. So go to the lake and throw out your fishing line. Take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth. There you will find the exact coin you need. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Here is what I want you to do for the elders of the Jews. Here is how you must help them to build the house of their God. Pay all their expenses from the royal treasures. Use the money you collect from the people who live west of the Euphrates. Don’t let the work on the temple stop.

From year to year he traveled from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah. He served Israel as judge in all those places.But he always went back to Ramah. That’s where his home was. He served Israel as judge there too. And he built an altar there to honor the Lord.

“ In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.

Here is something else we want you to know. Suppose this city is rebuilt. And suppose its walls are made like new again. Then no more taxes, gifts or fees will be collected. And sooner or later there will be less money for you.

The next day Moses took his seat to serve the people as their judge. They stood around him from morning until evening.His father- in- law saw everything Moses was doing for the people. So he said,“ Aren’t you trying to do too much for the people? You are the only judge. And all these people are standing around you from morning until evening.”Moses answered,“ The people come to me to find out what God wants them to do.Anytime they don’t agree with one another, they come to me. I decide between them. I tell them about God’s rules and instructions.”Moses’ father- in- law replied,“ What you are doing isn’t good.You will just get worn out. And so will these people who come to you. There’s too much work for you. You can’t possibly handle it by yourself.Listen to me. I’ll give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must speak to God for the people. Take their problems to him.Teach them his rules and instructions. Show them how to live and what to do.But choose men of ability from all the people. They must have respect for God. You must be able to trust them. They must not try to get money by cheating others. Appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.Let them serve the people as judges. But have them bring every hard case to you. They can decide the easy ones themselves. That will make your load lighter. They will share it with you.If this is what God wants and if you do it, then you will be able to carry the load. And all these people will go home satisfied.”Moses listened to his father- in- law. He did everything Jethro said.He chose men of ability from the whole community of Israel. He made them leaders of the people. They became officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses. But they decided the easy ones themselves.Moses sent his father- in- law on his way. So Jethro returned to his own country.

Jerusalem has had powerful kings. Some of them ruled over everything west of the Euphrates. Taxes, gifts and fees were paid to them.

Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully.

They began to bring charges against Jesus. They said,“ We have found this man misleading our people. He is against paying taxes to Caesar. And he claims to be Messiah, a king.”

The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. But David struck down 22,000 of them.

At that time I spoke to you. I said,“ You are too heavy a load for me to carry alone.The Lord your God has caused there to be many of you. Today you are as many as the stars in the sky.The Lord is the God of your people. May he cause there to be a thousand times more of you. May he bless you, just as he promised he would.But I can’t handle your problems and troubles all by myself. I can’t settle your arguments.So choose some wise men from each of your tribes. They must understand how to give good advice. The people must have respect for them. I will appoint those men to have authority over you.”You answered me,“ Your suggestion is good.”So I chose the leading men of your tribes who were wise and respected. I appointed them to have authority over you. I made them commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. I appointed them to be officials over the tribes.Here is what I commanded your judges at that time. I said,“ Listen to your people’s cases when they argue with one another. Judge them fairly. It doesn’t matter whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and an outsider living among you.When you judge them, treat everyone the same. Listen to those who are important and those who are not. Don’t be afraid of anyone. God is the highest judge. Bring me any case that is too hard for you. I’ll listen to it.”

Still others were saying,“ We’ve had to borrow money. We needed it to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.