New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it.
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And he went into Jericho, and when he was going through it,
2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.
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A man, named Zacchaeus, who was the chief tax-farmer, and a man of wealth,
3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.
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Made an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.
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And he went quickly in front of them and got up into a tree to see him, for he was going that way.
5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today."
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And when Jesus came to the place, looking up, he said to him, Zacchaeus, be quick and come down, for I am coming to your house today.
6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.
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And he came down quickly, and took him into his house with joy.
7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner."
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And when they saw it, they were all angry, saying, He has gone into the house of a sinner.
8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much."
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And Zacchaeus, waiting before him, said to the Lord, See, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone wrongly, I give him back four times as much.
9 Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.
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And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, for even he is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
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For the Son of man came to make search for those who are wandering from the way, and to be their Saviour.
11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
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And while they were giving ear to these words, he made another story for them, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they were of the opinion that the kingdom of God was coming straight away.
12 So he said, "A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return.
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So he said, A certain man of high birth went into a far-away country to get a kingdom for himself, and to come back.
13 He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, "Do business with these until I come back.'
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And he sent for ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds and said to them, Do business with this till I come.
14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, "We do not want this man to rule over us.'
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But his people had no love for him, and sent representatives after him, saying, We will not have this man for our ruler.
15 When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading.
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And when he came back again, having got his kingdom, he gave orders for those servants to whom he had given the money to come to him, so that he might have an account of what business they had done.
16 The first came forward and said, "Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.'
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And the first came before him, saying, Lord, your pound has made ten pounds.
17 He said to him, "Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.'
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And he said to him, You have done well, O good servant: because you have done well in a small thing you will have authority over ten towns.
18 Then the second came, saying, "Lord, your pound has made five pounds.'
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And another came, saying, Your pound has made five pounds.
19 He said to him, "And you, rule over five cities.'
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And he said, You will be ruler over five towns.
20 Then the other came, saying, "Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth,
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And another came, saying, Lord, here is your pound, which I put away in a cloth;
21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'
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Because I was in fear of you, for you are a hard man: you take up what you have not put down, and get in grain where you have not put seed.
22 He said to him, "I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
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He said to him, By the words of your mouth you will be judged, you bad servant. You had knowledge that I am a hard man, taking up what I have not put down and getting in grain where I have not put seed;
23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.'
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Why then did you not put my money in a bank, so that when I came I would get it back with interest?
24 He said to the bystanders, "Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.'
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And he said to the others who were near, Take the pound away from him, and give it to the man who has ten.
25 (And they said to him, "Lord, he has ten pounds!')
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And they say to him, Lord, he has ten pounds.
26 "I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
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And I say to you that to everyone who has, more will 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 be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.' "
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And as for those who were against me, who would not have me for their ruler, let them come here, and be put to death before me.
28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
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And when he had said this, he went on in front of them, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,
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And it came about that when he got near Beth-phage and Bethany by the mountain which is named the Mountain of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,
30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
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Saying, Go into the little town in front of you, and on going in you will see a young ass fixed with a cord, on which no man has ever been seated; let him loose and take him.
31 If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?' just say this, "The Lord needs it.' "
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And if anyone says to you, Why are you taking him? say, The Lord has need of him.
32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.
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And those whom he sent went away, and it was as he said.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
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And when they were getting the young ass, the owners of it said to them, Why are you taking the young ass?
34 They said, "The Lord needs it."
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And they said, The Lord has need of him.
35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.
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And they took him to Jesus, and they put their clothing on the ass, and Jesus got on to him.
36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.
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And while he went on his way they put their clothing down on the road in front of him.
37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,
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And when he came near the foot of the Mountain of Olives, all the disciples with loud voices gave praise to God with joy, because of all the great works which 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 heaven!"
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Saying, A blessing on the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop."
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And some of the Pharisees among the people said to him, Master, make your disciples be quiet.
40 He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."
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And he said in answer, I say to you, if these men keep quiet, the very stones will be crying out.
41 As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it,
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And when he got near and saw the town, he was overcome with weeping for it,
42 saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
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Saying, If you, even you, had knowledge today, of the things which give peace! but you are not able to see them.
43 Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side.
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For the time will come when your attackers will put a wall round you, and come all round you and keep you in on every side,
44 They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God."
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And will make you level with the earth, and your children with you; and there will not be one stone resting on another in you, because you did not see that it was your day of mercy.
45 Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there;
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And he went into the Temple and put out those who were trading there,
46 and he said, "It is written, "My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers."
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Saying to them, It has been said, My house is to be a house of prayer, but you have made it a hole of thieves.
47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him;
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And every day he was teaching in the Temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people were attempting to put him to death;
48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.
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But they were not able to do anything, because the people all kept near him, being greatly interested in his words.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.