Book of Common Prayer

¹⁹ You know^[a] this, my beloved brothers, but^[b] let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow into anger. ²⁰ For the anger of a man does not produce^[c] the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore having laid-aside all filthiness and abundance^[d] of badness, receive with gentleness the implanted word being able to save your souls.

But Be Doers of The Word, Not Hearers Only

²² But be^[e] doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding^[f] yourselves. ²³ Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man considering^[g] the face of his birth^[h] in a mirror. ²⁴ For he considered himself and has gone-away and immediately forgot^[i] what-sort of man he was. ²⁵ But the one having looked into the perfect law of liberty and having continued, not having become a forgetful^[j] hearer, but a doer of work— this one will be blessed in his doing. ²⁶ If anyone thinks that he is religious while not bridling^[k] his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion^[l] of this one is worthless^[m]. ²⁷ This is pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father— to be looking-after orphans and widows in their affliction; to be keeping oneself unspotted by the world.

But Do Not Merely Put On a Show of Righteousness For Others

6 “But take-heed not to do your righteousness^[a] in-front-of people so-as to be seen^[b] by them. Otherwise indeed, you do not have a reward with your Father in the heavens.

Don’t Give Money To Glorify Yourself. Give Without Thinking of Yourself At All

² “So whenever you do almsgiving^[c], do not trumpet it before you as-indeed the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the lanes^[d] so that they may be glorified by people. Truly I say to you, they are receiving their reward^[e] in full. ³ But while you are doing almsgiving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your almsgiving may be in secret. And your Father, the One seeing in secret, will reward you.

Don’t Pray To Impress Others. Always Pray As If Alone With Your Heavenly Father

⁵ “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. Because standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the wide-roads, they love to pray so that they may make-an-appearance^[f] to people. Truly I say to you, they are receiving their reward in full. ⁶ But whenever you pray, enter into your inner-room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father, the One in secret. And your Father, the One seeing in secret, will reward you.

Don’t Display Yourself As Fasting. Fast In Secret

¹⁶ “And whenever you fast, do not be like the sad-faced hypocrites. For they disfigure^[a] their faces so that they may appear to people as ones fasting. Truly I say to you, they are receiving their reward in full. ¹⁷ But while you are fasting, anoint your head and wash your face ¹⁸ so that you may not appear to people as one fasting, but to your Father, the One in secret. And your Father, the One seeing in secret, will reward you.