Matthew 6
1 “Be careful that you do not do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from 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 you do merciful deeds, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell 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 you do merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does,
But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
that your charities may be in secret; and then your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.
5 “When you pray, you 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 by men. Most certainly, I tell 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 you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
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 In praying, do not use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
"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 Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.
Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.
9 Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
"In this manner therefore pray: 'Our Father who art in Heaven, may Thy name be kept holy;
10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your 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 today our daily bread.
give us to-day our bread for the day;
12 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 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
and bring us not into temptation, but rescue us from the Evil one.'
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
"For if you forgive others their offences, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also;
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
but if you do not forgive others their offences, neither will your Father forgive yours.
16 “Moreover when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell 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 you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
But, whenever you fast, pour perfume on your hair and wash your face,
18 so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
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 “Do not lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust 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 for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break through and 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 your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
For where your wealth is, there also will your heart be.
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight is good, your whole body will be well lighted;
23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
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 one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both 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 tell you, do not be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
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 See the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds 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 “Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
Which of you by being over-anxious can add a single foot to his height?
28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, 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 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
and yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his magnificence could array himself like one of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will not he much more clothe you, you 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 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will 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 the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need 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 But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
But make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim, and then these things shall all be given you in addition.
34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
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.
