¹⁶ Rejoice always,^{(A) 17} pray continually,^{(B) 18} give thanks in all circumstances;^(C) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.^{(D) 20} Do not treat prophecies^(E) with contempt ²¹ but test them all;^(F) hold on to what is good,^{(G) 22} reject every kind of evil.

²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(H) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(I) and body be kept blameless^(J) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(K) 24} The one who calls^(L) you is faithful,^(M) and he will do it.^(N)

Prayer^(A)

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing^(B) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,^(C) who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling^(D) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.^{(E) 8} Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need^(F) before you ask him.

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.^{(N) 15} But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.^(O)

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast,^(P) do not look somber^(Q) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(R)