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.
"But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men, in order to attract their gaze; if you do, there is no reward for you with 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.
'When you give in charity, never blow a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets in order that their praises may be sung by men. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.
3 But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.
But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing,
4 That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.
that your charities may be in secret; and then your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.
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.
"And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have 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.
But you, whenever you pray, go into your own room and shut the door: then pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.
7 And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard.
"And when praying, do not use needless repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they expect to be listened to because of their multitude of words.
8 Be not you therefore like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him.
Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.
9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
"In this manner therefore pray: 'Our Father who art in Heaven, may Thy name be kept holy;
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
let Thy kingdom come; let Thy will be done, as in Heaven so on earth;
11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.
give us to-day our bread for the day;
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
and forgive us our shortcomings, as we also have forgiven those who have failed in their duty towards us;
13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.
and bring us not into temptation, but rescue us from the Evil one.'
14 For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences.
"For if you forgive others their offences, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also;
15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.
but if you do not forgive others their offences, neither will your Father forgive yours.
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.
"When any of you fast, never assume gloomy looks as the hypocrites do; for they disfigure their faces in order that it may be evident to men that they are fasting. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;
But, whenever you fast, pour perfume on your hair and wash your 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.
that it may not be apparent to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.
19 Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal.
"Do not lay up stores of wealth for yourselves on earth, where the moth and wear-and-tear destroy, and where thieves break in 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.
But amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven, where neither the moth nor wear-and-tear destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.
For where your wealth is, there also will your heart be.
22 The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be lightsome.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight is good, your whole body will be well lighted;
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!
but if your eyesight is bad, your whole body will be dark. If however the very light within you is darkness, how dense must the darkness 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.
"No man can be the bondservant of two masters; for either he will dislike one and like the other, or he will attach himself to one and think slightingly of the other. You cannot be the bondservants both of God and of gold.
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?
For this reason I charge you not to be over-anxious about your lives, inquiring what you are to eat or what you are to drink, nor yet about your bodies, inquiring what clothes you are to put on. Is not the life more precious than its food, and the body than its clothing?
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?
Look at the birds which fly in the air: they do not sow or reap or store up in barns, but your Heavenly Father feeds them: are not you of much greater value than they?
27 And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature by one cubit?
Which of you by being over-anxious can add a single foot to his height?
28 And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin.
And why be anxious about clothing? Learn a lesson from the wild lilies. Watch their growth. They neither toil nor spin,
29 But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.
and yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his magnificence could array himself like one of these.
30 And if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?
And if God so clothes the wild herbage which to-day flourishes and to-morrow is thrown into the oven, is it not much more certain that He will clothe you, you men of little faith?
31 Be not solicitous therefore, saying, What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?
Do not be over-anxious, therefore, asking 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.
For all these are questions that Gentiles are always asking; but your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things--all of them.
33 Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
But make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim, and then these things shall all be given you in addition.
34 Be not therefore solicitous for tomorrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.
Do not be over-anxious, therefore, about to-morrow, for to-morrow will bring its own cares. Enough for each day are its own troubles.
