On the question of Caesar

Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD to his anointed,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him
and strip kings of their robes,
to open doors before him—
and the gates shall not be closed:

For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name, I surname you,
though you do not know me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other;
besides me there is no god.
I arm you, though you do not know me,
so that they may know,
from the rising of the sun and from the west,
that there is no one besides me;
I am the LORD,
and there is no other.

Matthew 22:15-21 (NRSV)

Then the Pharisees went and plotted
to entrap him in what he said.
So they sent their disciples to him,
along with the Herodians, saying,
‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere,
and teach the way of God in accordance with truth,
and show deference to no one;
for you do not regard people with partiality.

Tell us, then, what you think.
Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’

But Jesus, aware of their malice, said,
‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin used for the tax.’

And they brought him a denarius.

Then he said to them,
‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’
They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’

Then he said to them,
‘Give therefore to the emperor
the things that are the emperor’s,
and to God the things that are God’s.’

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

(From the NAB version)

"Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax."
Then they handed him the Roman coin.

He said to them,
"Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's."

At that he said to them,
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and pay to God what belongs to God."

I have to say that I prefer the punch of the NAB version today!