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Matthew 6:6-15
The Message
Matthew 6:6-15
The Message
6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
14-15 “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
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Matthew 6:6-15
New International Version
Matthew 6:6-15
New International Version
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,(A) 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(B) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.(C) 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need(D) before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father(E) in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom(F) come,
your will be done,(G)
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.(H)
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.(I)
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a](J)
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’(K)
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.(L) 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.(M)
Footnotes
- Matthew 6:13 The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
- Matthew 6:13 Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.