Part 1232

Zacheus entertains Christ. The parable of the pounds. Christ rides upon an ass and weeps over Jerusalem.

19:1. And entering he walked through Jericho.

19:2. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans: and he was rich.

19:3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature.

19:4. And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see him: for he was to pass that way.

19:5. And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, he saw him and said to him: Zacheus, make haste and come down: for this day I must abide in thy house.

19:6. And he made haste and came down and received him with joy.

19:7. And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner.

19:8. But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him fourfold.

19:9. Jesus said to him: This day is salvation come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.

19:10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

19:11. As they were hearing these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately be manifested.

19:12. He said therefore: a certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

19:13. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds and said to them: Trade till I come.

He gave them ten pounds.... In the original, what is here translated a pound, is in Latin, mina, in value of our coin, three pounds two shillings and sixpence.

19:14. But his citizens hated him and they sent an embassage after him, saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.

19:15. And it came to pass that he returned, having received the kingdom: and he commanded his servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading,

19:16. And the first came saying: Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

19:17. And he said to him: Well done, thou good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a little, thou shalt have power over ten cities.

19:18. And the second came, saying: Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19:19. And he said to him: Be thou also over five cities.

19:20. And another came, saying: Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin.

19:21. For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou didst not lay down: and thou reapest that which thou didst not sow.

19:22. He saith to him: Out of thy own mouth I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down and reaping that which I did not sow.

19:23. And why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have exacted it with usury?

19:24. And he said to them that stood by: Take the pound away from him and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

19:25. And they said to him: Lord, he hath ten pounds.

19:26. But I say to you that to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: and from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him.