The Sermon On The Mount: Charitable Giving
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men (A)to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness(a) in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people in order to be noticed by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
2 “So when you (a)give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they (B)may be honored by men. (C)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!(A)
2 So whenever you give to the poor, don't blow a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they will be praised by people. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward!
2 “So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
3 But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
3 But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy],
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
4 so that your (c)giving will be in secret; and (D)your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
4 so that your giving may be done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
4 so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
The Sermon On The Mount: How To Pray
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to (E)stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners (d)(F)so that they may be seen by men. (G)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!(C)
5 "And whenever you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward!
5 “Also, when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
6 But you, when you pray, (H)go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and (I)your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.(c)(D)
6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees from the hidden place will reward you.
6 But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their (J)many words.
7 When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters,(d) since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.(E)
7 "When you are praying, don't say meaningless things like the unbelievers do, because they think they will be heard by being so wordy.
The Model Prayer
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but (Q)deliver us from (f)(R)evil. (g)[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
13 And do not bring us into(f) temptation,(K)but deliver us from the evil one.(g)(L)[For Yours is the kingdom and the powerand the glory forever. Amen.](h)
13 And never bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
14 (S)For if you forgive (h)others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
14 “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing,(i) your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.(M)
14 Because if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
15 But if you do not forgive people their offenses, your Father will not forgive your offenses."
15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.
The Sermon On The Mount: How To Fast
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
16 “(U)Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they (j)neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. (V)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive(l)(N) so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!
16 "Whenever you fast, don't be gloomy like the hypocrites, because they put on sad faces to show others they are fasting. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward!
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your (X)Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
18 so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.(m)
18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who is in the hidden place. And your Father who watches from the hidden place will reward you."
18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by people, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
The Sermon On The Mount: Treasure In Heaven
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
19 “(Y)Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
19 “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures(n) on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.(P)
19 "Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
20 But store up for yourselves (Z)treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven,(Q) where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.
20 But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal,
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
21 because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.
The Light Of The Body
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
22 “(AB)The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is (k)clear, your whole body will be full of light.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts].
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
23 But if (AC)your eye is (l)bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!(R)
23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light within you has turned into darkness, how great is that darkness!"
23 But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!
God And Possessions
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
24 “(AD)No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and (m)(AE)wealth.
24 “No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.(S)
24 "No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches!"
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].
The Sermon On The Mount: Anxiety
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
25 “(AF)For this reason I say to you, (n)do not be (AG)worried about your (o)life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
25 “This is why I tell you:(T) Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?(U)
25 "That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying about your life what you will eat or what you will drink or about your body what you will wear. Life is more than food, isn't it, and the body more than clothing?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
26 (AH)Look at the birds of the (p)air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
26 Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?(V)
26 Look at the birds in the sky. They don't plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren't you?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
28 And why are you (AK)worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
28 And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread.
28 And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don't work or spin yarn,
28 And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing],
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
30 But if God so clothes the (AM)grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? (AN)You of little faith!
30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith?(W)
30 Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won't he clothe you much better you who have little faith?
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
31 Do not (AO)worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’
31 "So don't ever worry by saying, "What are we going to eat?' or "What are we going to drink?' or "What are we going to wear?'
31 Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for (AP)your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
32 For the idolaters(p) eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
32 because it is the unbelievers who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them!
32 For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
33 But (s)seek first (t)His kingdom and His righteousness, and (AQ)all these things will be (u)added to you.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God(q)(X) and His righteousness,(Y) and all these things will be provided for you.(Z)
33 But first be concerned about God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well.
33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
34 “So do not (AR)worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will (v)care for itself. (w)Each day has enough trouble of its own.
34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble(AA) of its own.
34 So never worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.