Jesus entered Jericho and passed along the street,

Where Zacchaeus, chief among the publicans, was rich from his receipts.

He wanted just to see who Jesus was among the press,

But little stature met a crowd too dense to let him glimpse.

So he ran ahead of everyone and climbed a sycamore tree,

A wealthy man above the road, hidden where he hoped to see.

Then Jesus reached the place,

Stopped beneath the branches there,

Looked upward through the leaves,

And called the man by name in air.

Come down, Zacchaeus,

Make haste, come down today.

The man who climbed to catch a glimpse

Was seen along the way.

Come down, Zacchaeus,

The crowd can murmur on.

He hurried down and welcomed Him,

And joyfully received Him home.

The crowd began complaining that He'd lodge with such a man,

A sinner in their judgment, rich through an unpopular hand.

But Zacchaeus stood and answered with a costly turn made plain:

Half his goods would feed the poor; fraud would be repaid.

If any man had suffered through false taking or deceit,

Fourfold restitution would be laid before his feet.

Salvation came into that house,

Not because a tree stood tall,

But because the lost was sought there

By the One who saw him all.

A son of Abraham stood changed

Before the murmuring street,

And goods once held for keeping

Opened out in recompense.

Come down, Zacchaeus,

Make haste, come down today.

The man who climbed to catch a glimpse

Was seen along the way.

Come down, Zacchaeus,

The lost one has been found.

The Son of man came seeking, saving,

Right there in Jericho town.