Matthew 5:37-6:8

English Standard Version

³⁷ Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; ^(A)anything more than this comes from evil.^[a]

Retaliation

^38 (B)“You have heard that it was said, ^(C)‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I say to you, ^(D)Do not resist the one who is evil. But ^(E)if anyone ^(F)slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And ^(G)if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,^[b] let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone ^(H)forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ^42 (I)Give to the one who begs from you, and ^(J)do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

^43 (K)“You have heard that it was said, ^(L)‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, ^(M)Love your enemies and ^(N)pray for those who persecute you, ^45 (O)so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and ^(P)sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ^46 (Q)For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers,^[c] what more are you doing than others? Do not even ^(R)the Gentiles do the same? ^48 (S)You therefore must be ^(T)perfect, ^(U)as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Giving to the Needy

6 “Beware of ^(V)practicing your righteousness before other people in order ^(W)to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

^2 (X)“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may ^(Y)be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have ^(Z)received their reward. 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. ^(AA)And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Lord's Prayer

⁵ “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love ^(AB)to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. ^(AC)Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, ^(AD)go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. ^(AE)And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as ^(AF)the Gentiles do, for ^(AG)they think that they will be heard ^(AH)for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, ^(AI)for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.