Matthew 6:1–8

Giving to the Poor and Prayer

¹“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men ^ato be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

²“So when you ¹give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they ^amay be honored by men. ^bTruly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

³“But when you ¹give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

⁴so that your ¹giving will be in secret; and ^ayour Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

⁵“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to ^astand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners ^1bso that they may be seen by men. ^cTruly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

⁶“But you, when you pray, ^ago into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and ^byour Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

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 ^amany words.

⁸“So do not be like them; for ^ayour Father knows what you need before you ask Him.