1 Jesus passed through Jericho.

2 There was an important, wealthy, chief tax collector called Zacchaeus.

3 He tried to see who Jesus was. Being a short person he could not see over the crowd.

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore fig-mulberry tree near where he would pass by in order to see him.

5 When Jesus came to the place he looked up at Zacchaeus and said: »Come down quickly for today I must visit your home.«

6 He hurried down to receive him joyfully.

7 Many in the crowd complained saying: »He is staying with a man who is a sinner.«

8 Zacchaeus stood before Jesus and said: »Lord, I now give half of all my possessions to the poor. If I have defrauded any one I will give back four times the amount taken.«

9 Jesus said to him: »Salvation has come to this house today. He is also a son of Abraham.

10 »The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.«