[1] He entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And there was a man
named Zacchae'us; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. [3] And he sought
to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he
was small of stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore
tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to
the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchae'us, make haste and come
down; for I must stay at your house today." [6] So he made haste and came
down, and received him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it they all
murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." [8]
And Zacchae'us stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my
goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I
restore it fourfold." [9] And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come
to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of man
came to seek and to save the lost." [11] As they heard these things, he
proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because
they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. [12] He
said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom
and then return. [13] Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds,
and said to them, `Trade with these till I come.' [14] But his citizens
hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying, `We do not want this man
to reign over us.' [15] When he returned, having received the kingdom, he
commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to
him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. [16] The first
came before him, saying, `Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.' [17]
And he said to him, `Well done, good servant! Because you have been
faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' [18]
And the second came, saying, `Lord, your pound has made five pounds.' [19]
And he said to him, `And you are to be over five cities.' [20] Then another
came, saying, `Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a
napkin; [21] for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you
take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' [22] He
said to him, `I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant!
You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and
reaping what I did not sow? [23] Why then did you not put my money into the
bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?' [24] And
he said to those who stood by, `Take the pound from him, and give it to him
who has the ten pounds.' [25] (And they said to him, `Lord, he has ten
pounds!') [26] `I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given;
but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [27] But as
for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring
them here and slay them before me.'" [28] And when he had said this, he
went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. [29] When he drew near to Beth'phage
and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the
disciples, [30] saying, "Go into the village opposite, where on entering
you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and
bring it here. [31] If any one asks you, `Why are you untying it?' you
shall say this, `The Lord has need of it.'" [32] So those who were sent
went away and found it as he had told them. [33] And as they were untying
the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" [34] And
they said, "The Lord has need of it." [35] And they brought it to Jesus,
and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. [36] And as
he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. [37] As he was now
drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of
the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the
mighty works that they had seen, [38] saying, "Blessed is the King who
comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
[39] And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, "Teacher,
rebuke your disciples." [40] He answered, "I tell you, if these were
silent, the very stones would cry out." [41] And when he drew near and saw
the city he wept over it, [42] saying, "Would that even today you knew the
things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. [43] For
the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about
you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, [44] and dash you to
the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one
stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your
visitation." [45] And he entered the temple and began to drive out those
who sold, [46] saying to them, "It is written, `My house shall be a house
of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers." [47] And he was
teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the
principal men of the people sought to destroy him; [48] but they did not
find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words.