The Sermon on the Mount: How to Pray

And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to stand and[a] pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, in order that they may be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! But whenever you pray, enter into your inner room and shut your door and[b] pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“But when you[c] pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard. Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need[d] before you ask him. Therefore you pray in this way:

“Our Father who is in heaven,
may your name be treated as holy.
10 May your kingdom come,
may your will be done
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[e]

14 For if you forgive people their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive people, neither will your Father forgive your sins.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:5 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stand”) has been translated as a finite verb
  2. Matthew 6:6 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“shut”) has been translated as a finite verb
  3. Matthew 6:7 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“pray”) which is understood as temporal
  4. Matthew 6:8 Literally “of what you have need”
  5. Matthew 6:13 Or “evil”; most later Greek manuscripts add the phrase “for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen”

And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them: for [a]your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 11 Give us this day [b]our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from [c]the evil one. [d] 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:8 Some ancient authorities read God your Father.
  2. Matthew 6:11 Greek our bread for the coming day. Or, our needful bread
  3. Matthew 6:13 Or, evil
  4. Matthew 6:13 Many authorities, some ancient, but with variations, add For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.