And now, as Jesus passed along,
A rich man hasting came--
A chief amoung the publicans,
And Zaccheus by name.
Jesus he sought to see, as did
The people, one and all,
But could not overlook the crowd,
His stature was so small.
So he ran on before, and climbed
Into a sycamore tree;
That, perched above the surging throng,
He might the better see.
And when the Lord came near, He raised
His eyes, saw him, and said :
"Zaccheus, in thy house, to-day,
I will take rest and bread."
And then in haste the man came down,
And joyfully received
Into his house, which stood near by,
The Lord, whom He believed.
And when the crowd saw what was done,
To murmur they began,
That Jesus was content to be
Guest with a sinful man.
Yet Zaccheus heeded not, but stood,
And said unto the Lord :
"Behold, Lord, half of all my goods
I to the poor afford.
"And if I aught have taken,
Through falsehood to me told,
More than is right from any man,
I give it back fourfold."
And Jesus said : "Salvation is
To this house come to-day;
For this man is of Abraham's line,
Through having gone astray.
"For I, the Son of Man have come
Into this world below,
To seek the straying and the lost,
And save from guilt and woe."
