Matthew 6

1 TAKE heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven.2 Therefore when thou dost an almsdeed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.3 But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.4 That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.5 And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.6 But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.7 And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard.8 Be not you therefore like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him.9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.14 For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences.15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.16 And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.17 But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;18 That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.19 Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal.20 But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal.21 For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.22 The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be lightsome.23 But if thy eye be evil thy whole body shall be darksome. If then the light that is in thee, be darkness: the darkness itself how great shall it be!24 No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.25 Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment?26 Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they?27 And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature by one cubit?28 And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin.29 But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.30 And if the grass of the field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?31 Be not solicitous therefore, saying, What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?32 For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.33 Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Be not therefore solicitous for to morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 6

Pure-hearted Giving

1 “Bes careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people.t Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving,t do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagoguess and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth,t they have their reward.3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.s

Private Prayer

5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagoguess and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.6 But whenever you pray, go into your room,s close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.ss7 Whent you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard.8 Dot not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 So pray this way:s
Our Fathers in heaven, may your name be honored,t

10 may your kingdom come,s
may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread,t

12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselvest have forgiven our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,ts but deliver us from the evil one.st
14 “For if you forgive otherst their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

Proper Fasting

16 “Whent you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractivet so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth,t they have their reward.17 Whent you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Lasting Treasure

19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where motht and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where yourt treasures is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy,t your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is diseased,ts your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hates the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despiset the other. You cannot serve God and money.ts

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worryt about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?26 Look at the birds in the sky:t They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedst them. Aren’t you more valuablet than they are?27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?t28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowerst of the field grow; they do not workt or spin.29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass,t which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,ts won’t he clothe you even more,s you people of little faith?31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’32 For the unconvertedt pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33 But above all pursue his kingdomss and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.t