Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(A) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(B)

Prayer^(C)

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing^(D) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

¹¹ For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”^(A)

⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,^(A) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient^(B) to Christ.

¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^{[a](A) 18} For it is not the one who commends himself^(B) who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.^(C)

³ If anyone thinks they are something^(A) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^{(B) 4} Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,^(C) without comparing themselves to someone else,^(D)

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(A) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(B) to be rich in faith^(C) and to inherit the kingdom^(D) he promised those who love him?^{(E) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(F) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(G) 7} Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[a](H) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(I) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^(J)