| And he entered in, and went through *Hericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, which was a ruler among the Publicans, and was rich also. And he made means to see Jesus, what he should be: and could not for the press, because he was of a low stature. Wherefore he ran before, and climbed up into a wild fig tree, to see him: for he should come that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him: Zache, come down at once, for today I must abide at thy house. And he came down hastily and received him joyfully. And when they saw that they all grudged saying: He is gone in to tarry with a man that is a sinner.
And Zache stood forth and said unto the Lord: behold Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have done any man wrong, I will restore him four fold. And Jesus said to him: this day is health come unto this house, for as much as he also is become the child of Abraham. For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
As they heard these things, he added thereto a similitude, because he was nigh to *Herusalem, and because also they thought that the kingdom of God should shortly appear. He said therefore: a certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive him a kingdom, and then to come again. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds saying unto them: buy and sell till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent messengers after him saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.
And it came to pass, when he was come again and had received his kingdom, he commanded these servants, to be called to him (to whom he gave his money) to *wit what every man had done. Then came the first, saying: Lord, thy pound hath increased ten pounds. And he said unto him. Well good servant because thou wast faithful in a very little thing, take thou authority over ten cities. And the other came saying: Lord thy pound hath increased five pounds. And to the same he said: and be thou also ruler over five cities.
And the third came and said: Lord behold here thy pound, which I have kept in a napkin, for I feared thee, because thou art a strait man: thou takest up that thou laidst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he said unto him: Of thine own mouth, judge I thee thou evil servant. Knewest thou that I am a strait man taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow? Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with vantage?
And he said to them that stood by: take from him that pound, and give it him that hath ten pounds. And they said unto him Lord he hath ten pounds. I say unto you, that unto all them that have, it shall be given: and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken from him. Moreover those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them bring hither, and slay them before me. And when he had thus spoken, he proceeded forth before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
And it fortuned, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, besides mount Olivete, he sent two of his disciples saying: Go ye in to the town which is over against you. In the which as soon as ye are come, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat. Loose him and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, why that ye loose him: thus say unto him, the Lord hath need of him.
They that were sent, went their way and found, even as he had said unto them. And as they were a loosing the colt, the owners said unto them: why loose ye the colt? And they said: for the Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus. And they cast their raiment on the colt, and set Jesus theron. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
And when he was now come, where he should go down from the mount Olivete, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and to laud God with a loud voice, for all the miracles that they had seen, saying: Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees of the company said unto him: Master rebuke thy disciples. He answered, and said unto them: I tell you if these should hold their peace, the stones would cry.
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept on it saying: If thou hadst known those things which belong unto thy peace, even at this thy time? But now are they hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thy enemies shall cast a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and make thee even with the ground, with thy children which are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
And he went in to the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought saying unto them, it is written: my house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. The high Priests and the scribes and the chief of the people went about to destroy him: but could not find what to do. For all the people stuck by him, and gave him audience. |
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