Matthew 6:5-9

International Standard Version

Teaching about Prayer^(A)

⁵ “And whenever you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. I tell all of you^[a] with certainty, they have their full reward! ⁶ But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees from the hidden place will reward you.^[b]

⁷ “When you are praying, don’t say meaningless things^[c] like the unbelievers^[d] do, because they think they will be heard by being so wordy. ⁸ Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ Therefore, this is how you should pray: