THE LORD’S PRAYER

11 He was prayingae in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”af

2 He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say,ag

Father,P,ah

your nameai be honored as holy.aj

Your kingdom come.Q,ak

3 Give us each day our daily bread.R,al

4 And forgive us our sins,am

for we ourselves also forgive everyone

in debt to us.S,an

And do not bring us into temptation.”T,ao

ASK, SEARCH, KNOCK

5 He also said to them, “Suppose one of youU has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ 7 Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness,A he will get up and give him as much as he needs.a

9 “Sob I say to you, ask,c and it will be given to you. Seek,d and you will find. Knock,e and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his sonB asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil,f know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Fatherg give the Holy Spirith to those who ask him?”

A HOUSE DIVIDED

14 Nowi he was driving out a demonj that was mute.k When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul,l the rulerm of the demons.”n 16 And others, as a test,o were demanding of him a signp from heaven.

17 Knowing their thoughts,q he told them, “Every kingdom dividedr against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satans also is divided against himself, how will his kingdomt stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sonsu drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God,v then the kingdom of Godw has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowersx him, he takes from him all his weapons* y he trustedz in, and divides up his plunder.aa 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me,ab and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.