21 ¹ THEY WERE NOW nearing Jerusalem; and when they reached Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples 21 ² with these instructions: 'Go to the village opposite, where you will at once find a donkey tethered with her foal beside her; untie them, and bring them to me. 21 ³ If anyone speaks to you, say, "Our Master needs them"; and he will let you take them at once.' Or: Our Master needs them and will send them back straight away. 21 ⁴ This was in fulfilment of the prophecy which says,

21 ⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed, 21 ⁷ and brought the donkey and her foal; they laid their cloaks on them and Jesus mounted. 21 ⁸ Crowds of people carpeted the road with their cloaks, and some cut branches from the trees to spread in his path. 21 ^{9 [ Ps.118.26. ]} Then the crowd that went ahead and the others that came behind raised the shout: 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the heavens!' 21 ¹⁰ When he entered Jerusalem the whole city went wild with excitement. 'Who is this?' people asked, 21 ¹¹ and the crowd replied, 'This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.'