And He entered and was passing through  ¹Jericho.

And behold, there was a man whose name was called Zaccheus; and he was a chief  ¹tax collector, and he was rich.

And he was seeking to see Jesus, who He was, and could not because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.

And he ran on ahead and climbed up in a  ¹sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.

And as He came to the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay in your house.

And he hurried and came down, and received Him, rejoicing.

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He has gone in to lodge with a sinful man.

And Zaccheus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, the  ¹half of my possessions, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have  ²taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore  ³four times as much.

And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he  ¹also is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Man has come to  ¹seek and to save that which is lost.

And as they were listening to these things, He spoke  ¹further a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they supposed that the kingdom of God was to  ²appear immediately.

He said therefore, A  ¹certain man of noble birth  ²went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and to  ³return.

And he called  ¹ten of his own slaves and gave them ten  ²minas, and he said to them, Do business  ³until I come.

But his  ¹citizens hated him and sent an envoy after him, saying,  ²We do not want this man to reign over us.

And when he came back, having received the kingdom, he commanded that those slaves to whom he had given the money should be called to him so that he might know what they had gained by doing business.

And the first appeared, saying, Master, your mina has gained ten minas.

And he said to him, Well done, good slave. Because you have become faithful in the least,  ¹have authority over ten cities.

And the second came, saying, Your mina, master, has made five minas.

And he said to this one as well, And you, be over  ¹five cities.

 ¹And the other came, saying, Master, behold your mina, which I  ²kept laid away in a handkerchief;

For I was afraid of you, because you are a  ¹harsh man: you withdraw what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow.

He said to him, Out of your mouth I will  ¹judge you, wicked slave. You knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.

Why then did you not put my money  ¹in the bank, and when I came, I would have collected it with interest?

And to those standing by he said, Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.

And they said to him, Master, he has ten minas.

I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from him who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away.

However, these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and  ¹slay them before me.

Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.

And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out; and I will make it a reproach upon all Israel.

And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers throughout all the territory of Israel. And if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.

Then the messengers went to Gibeah of Saul, and they spoke these words in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voice and wept.

And Saul was just coming from the field after the oxen, and Saul said, What is wrong with the people that they weep so? And they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul as he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.

And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them into pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by means of the messengers, saying, Whoever does not come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the dread of Jehovah fell upon the people, and they came forth as one man.

And he mustered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah were thirty thousand.

And they said to the messengers who had come, Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow you will have deliverance by the time the sun is hot. So the messengers went and told this to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

And the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us all that seems good in your sight.

And on the next day Saul put the people into three companies, and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch. And they struck Ammon until the day was hot; and those who remained were so scattered that not two of them remained together.

And the people said to Samuel, Who said, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men that we may put them to death.

But Saul said, No man shall be put to death on this day, for today Jehovah has accomplished deliverance in Israel.

Then Samuel said to the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal and there renew the  ¹kingdom.

And all the people went to Gilgal. And there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed peace offerings before Jehovah, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

And Samuel said to all Israel, I have now listened to your voice according to all that you have said to me, and I have placed a king over you.

And now, here is the king who goes before you. But I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you, and I have gone before you from my youth until this day.

 ¹Here I am; testify against me before Jehovah and before His anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe in order to blind my eyes with it? Then I will restore it to you.

And they said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from anyone's hand.

And he said to them, Jehovah is Witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they said, He is witness.

And Samuel said to the people, It is Jehovah who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

Now therefore stand here, that I may plead with you before Jehovah concerning all the righteous acts of Jehovah, which He did to you and to your fathers.

When Jacob went to Egypt, and your fathers cried out to Jehovah, Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron; and they brought your fathers out from Egypt and caused them to dwell in this place.

But they forgot Jehovah their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera, the captain of Hazor's army, and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.

Then they cried out to Jehovah and said, We have sinned, for we have forsaken Jehovah and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but deliver us now from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.

And Jehovah sent Jerubbaal and  ¹Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hand of your enemies all around; and you dwelt securely.

And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me,  ¹No; but a king will reign over us, though Jehovah your God was your King.

Now therefore here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have asked for. See then, Jehovah has set a king over you.

If you fear Jehovah and serve Him and listen to His voice and do not rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow Jehovah your God, fine.

But if you do not listen to the voice of Jehovah, but rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, then the hand of Jehovah will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

Now therefore stand here and see this great thing that Jehovah will do before your eyes.

Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call to Jehovah, that He send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness which you have done in the sight of Jehovah by asking for a king for yourselves is great.

And Samuel called to Jehovah, and Jehovah sent thunder and rain on that day. And all the people feared Jehovah and Samuel greatly.

Then all the people said to Samuel, Pray to Jehovah your God for your servants that we would not die, for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king for ourselves.

And Samuel said to the people, Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil, yet do not turn away from following Jehovah, but serve Jehovah with all your heart.

And do not turn away, for your turning away would be after vain idols, which cannot profit or deliver you, for they are vanity.

For because of His great name Jehovah will not forsake His people, for Jehovah has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I would  ¹sin against Jehovah by ceasing to pray for you, but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

Only, fear Jehovah and serve Him in truth with all your heart, for consider what great things He has done for you.

But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be consumed.