Matthew 5:43-6:15

New International Version

Love for Enemies

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a]^(A) and hate your enemy.’^(B) ⁴⁴But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^(C) ⁴⁵that you may be children^(D) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.^(E) ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?^(F) Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(G)

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(H) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

²“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(I)

Prayer^(J)

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

⁹“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father^(P) in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰your kingdom^(Q) come,
your will be done,^(R)
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us today our daily bread.^(S)
¹²And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.^(T)
¹³And lead us not into temptation,^[b]^(U)
    but deliver us from the evil one.^[c]’^(V)

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

Footnotes

Matthew 5:43 Lev. 19:18
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.

Psalm 12

New International Version

Psalm 12^[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
²Everyone lies^(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.^(C)

³May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(D)
    and every boastful tongue—^(E)
⁴those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵“Because the poor are plundered^(G) and the needy groan,^(H)
    I will now arise,^(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them^(J) from those who malign them.”
⁶And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(K)
    like silver purified^(L) in a crucible,^(M)
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(N)
and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(O)
⁸who freely strut^(P) about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.