Matthew 6 Comparison: Bible in Basic English vs New Heart English Bible
Matthew 6
1Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2When then you give money to the poor, do not make a noise about it, as the false-hearted men do in the Synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly, I say to you, They have their reward.
3But when you give money, let not your left hand see what your right hand does:
4So that your giving may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward.
5And when you make your prayers, be not like the false-hearted men, who take pleasure in getting up and saying their prayers in the Synagogues and at the street turnings so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
6But when you make your prayer, go into your private room, and, shutting the door, say a prayer to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward.
7And in your prayer do not make use of the same words again and again, as the Gentiles do: for they have the idea that God will give attention to them because of the number of their words.
8So be not like them; because your Father has knowledge of your needs even before you make your requests to him.
9Let this then be your prayer: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10Let your kingdom come. Let your pleasure be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11Give us this day bread for our needs.
12And make us free of our debts, as we have made those free who are in debt to us.
13And let us not be put to the test, but keep us safe from the Evil One.
14For if you let men have forgiveness for their sins, you will have forgiveness from your Father in heaven.
15But if you do not let men have forgiveness for their sins, you will not have forgiveness from your Father for your sins.
16And when you go without food, be not sad-faced as the false-hearted are. For they go about with changed looks, so that men may see that they are going without food. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
17But when you go without food, put oil on your head and make your face clean;
18So that no one may see that you are going without food, but your Father in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward.
19Make no store of wealth for yourselves on earth, where it may be turned to dust by worms and weather, and where thieves may come in by force and take it away.
20But make a store for yourselves in heaven, where it will not be turned to dust and where thieves do not come in to take it away:
21For where your wealth is, there will your heart be.
22The light of the body is the eye; if then your eye is true, all your body will be full of light.
23But if your eye is evil, all your body will be dark. If then the light which is in you is dark, how dark it will be!
24No man is able to be a servant to two masters: for he will have hate for the one and love for the other, or he will keep to one and have no respect for the other. You may not be servants of God and of wealth.
25So I say to you, Take no thought for your life, about food or drink, or about clothing for your body. Is not life more than food, and the body more than its clothing?
26See the birds of heaven; they do not put seeds in the earth, they do not get in grain, or put it in store-houses; and your Father in heaven gives them food. Are you not of much more value than they?
27And which of you by taking thought is able to make himself a cubit taller?
28And why are you troubled about clothing? See the flowers of the field, how they come up; they do no work, they make no thread:
29But I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
30But if God gives such clothing to the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is put into the oven, will he not much more give you clothing, O you of little faith?
31Then do not be full of care, saying, What are we to have for food or drink? or, With what may we be clothed?
32Because the Gentiles go in search of all these things: for your Father in heaven has knowledge that you have need of all these things:
33But let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition.
34Then have no care for tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Take the trouble of the day as it comes.
Matthew 6
1"Be careful that you do not do your acts of charity before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2Therefore when you do merciful deeds, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from people. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
3But when you do merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does,
4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5"And when you pray, you 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 by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7And in praying, do not use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
8Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
9Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
13Let us not come into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.]'
14"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16"Moreover when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
17But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
18so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
19"Do not lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break through and steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
23But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon.
25Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26See the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much more value than they?
27"And which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, neither do they spin,
29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
31"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'
32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33But seek first his Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
34Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Understanding Bible in Basic English vs New Heart English Bible in Matthew 6
Bible in Basic English (BBE)
A simplified translation using a limited English vocabulary for clarity and accessibility. Helpful for new readers, ESL learners, and quick comprehension. Great for devotional reading and getting the big picture of each passage.
New Heart English Bible (NHEB)
A modern public domain translation with clear, contemporary English. Designed for readability while staying close to the source text. A solid option for both daily reading and study.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Matthew 6 in the Bible in Basic English and New Heart English Bible. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Matthew 6:16
"And when you go without food, be not sad-faced as the false-hearted are. For they go about with changed looks, so that men may see that they are going without food. Truly I say to you, They have their reward."
""Moreover when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward."
