Piety in secret

6 “When you are practicing your piety, mind you don’t do it with an eye on the audience! Otherwise, you won’t have any reward from your father in heaven.

² “So when you give money to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet in front of you. That’s what people do when they’re just play-acting, in the synagogues and the streets. They do it so that people will be impressed at them. I’m telling you the truth: they’ve received their reward in full. ³ No: when you give money, don’t let your left hand have any idea what your right hand is up to. ⁴ That way, your giving will be in secret. And your father, who sees in secret, will repay you.

⁵ “When you pray, you mustn’t be like the play-actors. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on street corners, so that people will notice them. I’m telling you the truth: they have received their reward in full. ⁶ No: when you pray, go into your own room, shut the door, and pray to your father who is there in secret. And your father, who sees in secret, will repay you.”

The Lord’s Prayer

⁷ “When you pray, don’t pile up a jumbled heap of words! That’s what the Gentiles do. They reckon that the more they say, the more likely they are to be heard. ⁸ So don’t be like them. You see, your father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ “So this is how you should pray:

¹⁴ “Yes: if you forgive people the wrong they have done, your heavenly father will forgive you as well. ¹⁵ But if you don’t forgive people, neither will your heavenly father forgive you what you have done wrong.”

On fasting and lasting treasure

¹⁶ “When you fast, don’t be gloomy like the play-actors. They make their faces quite unrecognizable, so that everyone can see they’re fasting. I’m telling you the truth: they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ No: when you fast, tidy your hair and beard the way you normally do, and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that others won’t notice you’re fasting—except your father, privately. Then your father, who sees in private, will repay you.