Chapter 6

Teaching About Almsgiving.^{[a] 1} “[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them;^(A) otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. ² When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites^[b] do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.^{(B) 3} But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, ⁴ so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Teaching About Prayer. ⁵ “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

⁹ It will be like a sign^[a] on your hand and a reminder on your forehead,^(A) so that the teaching of the Lord will be on your lips: with a strong hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt.

¹⁶ It will be like a sign on your hand and a band on your forehead that with a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”^(A)

³⁸ Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout their generations they are to make tassels^[a] for the corners of their garments, fastening a violet cord to each corner.^{(A) 39} When you use these tassels, the sight of the cord will remind you of all the commandments of the Lord and you will do them, without prostituting yourself going after the desires of your hearts and your eyes.