“And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to (A)stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners (B)so that they [a]will be seen by people. (C)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you pray, (D)go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and (E)your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their (F)many words. So do not be like them; for (G)your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

The Lord’s Prayer

(H)Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father, who is in heaven,
[b]Hallowed be Your name.
10 [c](I)Your kingdom come.
(J)Your will be done,
[d]On earth as it is in heaven.
11 (K)Give us this day [e]our daily bread.
12 And (L)forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but (M)deliver us from [f](N)evil.[g]

14 (O)For if you forgive other people for their [h]offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But (P)if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your [i]offenses.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:5 Lit may show themselves to
  2. Matthew 6:9 I.e., treated as sacred or holy
  3. Matthew 6:10 Or May Your...come
  4. Matthew 6:10 Lit as in heaven, also on earth
  5. Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
  6. Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one
  7. Matthew 6:13 Late mss add For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
  8. Matthew 6:14 Or wrongdoings
  9. Matthew 6:15 Or wrongdoings

5-13 “And then, when you pray, don’t be like the play-actors. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at street-corners so that people may see them at it. Believe me, they have had all the reward they are going to get. But when you pray, go into your own room, shut your door and pray to your Father privately. Your Father who sees all private things will reward you. And when you pray don’t rattle off long prayers like the pagans who think they will be heard because they use so many words. Don’t be like them. After all, God, who is your Father, knows your needs before you ask him. Pray then like this—‘Our Heavenly Father, may your name be honoured; May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day the bread we need, Forgive us what we owe to you, as we have also forgiven those who owe anything to us. Keep us clear of temptation, and save us from evil’.”

Forgiveness of fellow-man is essential

14-15 “For if you forgive other people their failures, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you will not forgive other people, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you your failures.”

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