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Concerning Prayer

“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.(A) But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[a](B)

“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.(C) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“Pray, then, in this way:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be revered as holy.
10     May your kingdom come.
    May your will be done
        on earth as it is in heaven.(D)
11     Give us today our daily bread.[b](E)
12     And forgive us our debts,
        as we also have forgiven our debtors.(F)
13     And do not bring us to the time of trial,[c]
        but rescue us from the evil one.[d](G)

14 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,(H) 15 but if you do not forgive others,[e] neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.6 Other ancient authorities add openly
  2. 6.11 Or our bread for tomorrow
  3. 6.13 Or us into testing
  4. 6.13 Or from evil. Other ancient authorities add, in some form, For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen.
  5. 6.15 Other ancient authorities add their trespasses

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.