“And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to (A)stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners (B)so that they [a]will be seen by people. (C)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you pray, (D)go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and (E)your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their (F)many words. So do not be like them; for (G)your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

The Lord’s Prayer

(H)Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father, who is in heaven,
[b]Hallowed be Your name.
10 [c](I)Your kingdom come.
(J)Your will be done,
[d]On earth as it is in heaven.
11 (K)Give us this day [e]our daily bread.
12 And (L)forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but (M)deliver us from [f](N)evil.[g]

14 (O)For if you forgive other people for their [h]offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But (P)if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your [i]offenses.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:5 Lit may show themselves to
  2. Matthew 6:9 I.e., treated as sacred or holy
  3. Matthew 6:10 Or May Your...come
  4. Matthew 6:10 Lit as in heaven, also on earth
  5. Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
  6. Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one
  7. Matthew 6:13 Late mss add For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
  8. Matthew 6:14 Or wrongdoings
  9. Matthew 6:15 Or wrongdoings

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
    as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,[a]
12 and forgive us our sins,
    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,[b]
    but rescue us from the evil one.[c]

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:11 Or Give us today our food for the day; or Give us today our food for tomorrow.
  2. 6:13a Or And keep us from being tested.
  3. 6:13b Or from evil. Some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.