Matthew 6

₁When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.

₂When you give to the poor, don't blow a loud horn. That's what show-offs do in the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

₃When you give to the poor, don't let anyone know about it. ₄Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

₅When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

₆When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.

₇When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. ₈Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.

₉You should pray like this:

₁₄If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. ₁₅But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

₁₆When you go without eating, don't try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward. ₁₇Instead, comb your hair and wash your face. ₁₈Then others won't know that you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.

₁₉Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. ₂₀Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. ₂₁Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

₂₂Your eyes are like a window for your body. When they are good, you have all the light you need. ₂₃But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. If the light inside you is dark, you are in the dark.

₂₄You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

₂₅I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing? ₂₆Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?

₂₇Can worry make you live longer? ₂₈Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes. ₂₉But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of them. ₃₀God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?

₃₁Don't worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” ₃₂Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these. ₃₃But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.

₃₄Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.