Luke 19:1–27

¹And having entered, he was passing through Jericho, ²and lo, a man, by name called Zaccheus, and he was a chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich, ³and he was seeking to see Jesus, who he is, and was not able for the multitude, because in stature he was small, ⁴and having run forward before, he went up on a sycamore, that he may see him, because through that way he was about to pass by. ⁵And as Jesus came up to the place, having looked up, he saw him, and said unto him, ‘Zaccheus, having hastened, come down, for to-day in thy house it behoveth me to remain;’ ⁶and he having hastened did come down, and did receive him rejoicing; ⁷and having seen it, they were all murmuring, saying—‘With a sinful man he went in to lodge!’ ⁸And Zaccheus having stood, said unto the Lord, ‘Lo, the half of my goods, sir, I give to the poor, and if of any one anything I did take by false accusation, I give back fourfold.’ ⁹And Jesus said unto him—‘To-day salvation did come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham; ¹⁰for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’

¹¹And while they are hearing these things, having added he spake a simile, because of his being nigh to Jerusalem, and of their thinking that the reign of God is about presently to be made manifest. ¹²He said therefore, ‘A certain man of birth went on to a far country, to take to himself a kingdom, and to return, ¹³and having called ten servants of his own, he gave to them ten pounds, and said unto them, Do business—till I come; ¹⁴and his citizens were hating him, and did send an embassy after him, saying, We do not wish this one to reign over us.

¹⁵‘And it came to pass, on his coming back, having taken the kingdom, that he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he gave the money, that he might know what any one had done in business.

¹⁶‘And the first came near, saying, Sir, thy pound did gain ten pounds; ¹⁷and he said to him, Well done, good servant, because in a very little thou didst become faithful, be having authority over ten cities.

¹⁸‘And the second came, saying, Sir, thy pound made five pounds; ¹⁹and he said also to this one, And thou, become thou over five cities.

²⁰‘And another came, saying, Sir, lo, thy pound, that I had lying away in a napkin; ²¹for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

²²‘And he saith to him, Out of thy mouth I will judge thee, evil servant: thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow! ²³and wherefore didst thou not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, with interest might have received it?

²⁴‘And to those standing by he said, Take from him the pound, and give to him having the ten pounds— ²⁵(and they said to him, Sir, he hath ten pounds)— ²⁶for I say to you, that to every one having shall be given, and from him not having, also what he hath shall be taken from him, ²⁷but those my enemies, who did not wish me to reign over them, bring hither and slay before me.’