Zion’s Coming King

9Rejoice, O people of Zion!*

Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!

Look, your king is coming to you.

He is righteous and victorious,*

yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—

riding on a donkey’s colt.

10I will remove the battle chariots from Israel*

and the warhorses from Jerusalem.

I will destroy all the weapons used in battle,

and your king will bring peace to the nations.

His realm will stretch from sea to sea

and from the Euphrates River* to the ends of the earth.*

11Because of the covenant I made with you,

sealed with blood,

I will free your prisoners

from death in a waterless dungeon.

12Come back to the place of safety,

all you prisoners who still have hope!

I promise this very day

that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.

13Judah is my bow,

and Israel is my arrow.

Jerusalem* is my sword,

and like a warrior, I will brandish it against the Greeks.*

Matthew 21

Jesus’ Triumphant Entry

1As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2“Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me.3If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

4This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

5“Tell the people of Jerusalem,*

‘Look, your King is coming to you.

He is humble, riding on a donkey—

riding on a donkey’s colt.’”*

6The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.*

8Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God* for the Son of David!

Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Praise God in highest heaven!”*

10The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

11And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”