New International Reader's Version

Luke 19:1-7 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

1. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

2. A man named Zacchaeus lived there. He was a chief tax collector and was very rich.

3. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was. But he was a short man. He could not see Jesus because of the crowd.

4. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree. He wanted to see Jesus, who was coming that way.

5. Jesus reached the spot where Zacchaeus was. He looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at your house today."

6. So Zacchaeus came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7. All the people saw this. They began to whisper among themselves. They said, "Jesus has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "