Matthew 6:5 - Easy To Read Version “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites. {\cf2\super [75]} The hypocrites love to stand in the synagogues {\cf2\super [76]} and on the street corners and pray loudly. They want people to see them pray. I tell you the truth. They already have their full reward. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already. American Standard Version (1901) And when ye pray, ye 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 of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. Common English Bible “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. Catholic Public Domain Version And when you pray, you should not be like the hypocrites, who love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets to pray, so that they may be seen by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version 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. |
I speak to God evening, morning, and noon.\par I tell him what upsets me,\par and he listens to me!\par
The Lord hates the offerings that evil people give. But the Lord is happy to hear a good person’s prayers.
The Lord hates every person who thinks that he is better than other people. The Lord will surely punish all those proud people.
“You people will raise your arms to pray to me—but I will refuse to look at you. You people will say more and more prayers—but I will refuse to listen to you. Why? Because your hands are covered with blood.
Then you people will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me. And I will listen to you.
Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. Three times every day, Daniel got down on his knees and prayed and praised God. When Daniel heard about the new law he went to his house. Daniel went up to his room on the roof of his house. Daniel went to the windows that opened toward Jerusalem. Then Daniel got down on his knees and prayed, like he always did.
“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees. {\cf2\super [333]} You are hypocrites. {\cf2\super [334]} You close the way for people to enter the kingdom of heaven. You yourselves don’t enter, and you stop the people that are trying to enter.
“The only reason they do good things is for other people to see them. They wear special boxes {\cf2\super [328]} full of Scriptures. {\cf2\super [329]} They make these boxes bigger and bigger. And they make their special prayer clothes very long \{so that people will see them\}.
Those Pharisees {\cf2\super [330]} and teachers of the law love to get the most important seats at the feasts. And they love to get the most important seats in the synagogues. {\cf2\super [331]}
“Be careful! When you do good things, don’t do those things in front of people. Don’t do those things for people to see you. If you do that, then you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“When you fast, {\cf2\super [78]} don’t make yourselves look sad. The hypocrites {\cf2\super [79]} do that. Don’t be like the hypocrites. They make their faces look strange to show people that they are fasting. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.
“When you give to poor people, don’t announce that you are giving. Don’t do like the hypocrites {\cf2\super [73]} do. They blow trumpets before they give so that people will see them. They do that in the synagogues {\cf2\super [74]} and on the streets. They want other people to give honor to them. I tell you the truth. Those hypocrites already have their full reward.
God owns the harvest (people). Pray to him that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest.”
When you are praying, and you remember that you are angry with another person about something, then forgive that person. Forgive them so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins.”
Jesus continued teaching. Jesus said, “Be careful of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around wearing clothes that look important. And they love for people to show respect to them in the market places.
It will be bad for you Pharisees because you love to get the most important seats in the synagogues. {\cf2\super [210]} And you love for people to show respect to you in the market places.
Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope. Jesus used this story to teach them:
“The tax collector {\cf2\super [288]} stood alone too. But when he prayed, he would not even look up to heaven. The tax collector felt very humble before God. He said, ‘O God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner!’
But they are mean to widows {\cf2\super [328]} and steal their homes. Then they try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. God will punish these people very much.”
“But it will be bad for you, you rich people,\par because you had your easy life.\par
You have never asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive. And you will be truly happy.
Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.
But the grace (kindness) that God gives is greater. Like the Scripture says, “God is against proud people, but he gives grace (kindness) to people who are humble.” {\cf2\super [22]}