A Fishy Fee

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

Matthew 17:24-27

Tax collectors came for their tolls,
Clueless of the Christ of the scrolls.
Hired to levy the kindred pair,
Heedless of the Heaven-sent Heir,
The taxmen waited for their cash
As Peter pulled a piscine stash.
Jesus furnished a fishy fee
For his fisherman from the sea.

Traditional Chinese Translation

《魚之費》
耶穌為他的漁夫從海中
的魚提供一項當付之費。