Prayer and fasting

This page contains selected passages from the Open English Translation with the passage from the OET Readers’ Version on the left, and the OET Literal Version on the right. Minimal commentary is included (only some headings)—our aim is simply to conveniently list the passages in one place so that our readers can make up their own minds about what the writer of the passage was intending to communicate.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

Learning to pray

OET Mat 6:5-18

6:5 Teaching about praying

(Luke 11:2-4)

5 “Whenever you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray in the Jewish meeting halls and on street corners so everyone will notice them.[ref] I can assure you that they’ve already received their reward in full. 6 Instead, when you pray, go into a private room and shut the door, then pray to your father who’s not visible to you. Then your father who sees everything will reward you.

7 “And when you do pray, don’t babble away like people of other religions who think they’ll be listened to just because of how much they pray. 8 There’s no need to be like them, because God your father already knows your needs before you even ask him. 9 So pray like this:

‘Our father in the heavens,

we want your name to be honoured forever.

10 We want your kingdom to come

and your plans to be fulfilled here on earth just like they are in heaven.

11 Give us everything we need today

12 and write off what we owe you

as we also write off what others owe us.

13 Don’t bring us to the point of being tempted,

but keep us away from doing evil things.’

14 “Because if you people forgive other people’s wrongs, then your heavenly father will also forgive your wrongs.[ref] 15 But if you don’t forgive other people’s wrongs, then your father won’t forgive your wrongs either.

6:16 Teaching about fasting

16 “Whenever you people are abstaining from food, don’t look miserable like the hypocrites, because they intentionally try to look awful so that everyone will notice that they’re fasting. I can assure you that they’ve already received their reward in full. 17 Instead, when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face 18 so that no one will realise that you’re fasting, other than your father who’s not visible to you. Then your father who sees everything will reward you.

6:5: Luk 18:10-14.

6:14-15: Mrk 11:25-26.

5 And whenever you _may _be _praying, you _all _will_ not _be like the hypocrites, because they _are _loving to _be _praying in the synagogues and having _stood on the corners of _the roads, so _that they _may _be _seen by _the people.
Truly, I _am _saying to _you _all, they _are _receiving _fully the reward of _them.

6 But you whenever you _may _be _praying, come _in into the private _room of _you and having _shut the door of _you, pray to _the father of _you, who is in the secret, and the father of _you, the one seeing in the secret, will _be _giving _back to _you.

7 And praying, you _all _may_ not _babble as the pagans for they _are _supposing that in the many _messages of _them they _will _be _being _listened _to.

8 Therefore you _all _may_ not _be _likened to _them, because/for the god the father of _you _all has _known what things you _all _are _having need before the time you _all to _request him.

9 Therefore you _all be _praying thus:
father of _us, the one in the heavens, let_ the name of _you _be _sanctified.

10 ˓Let˒_ the kingdom of _you _come, let _be_ the will of _you _become, on earth also as in heaven.

11 Give to _us today the the daily _needed bread of _us.

12 And forgive to _us the debts of _us, as we also forgave to _the debtors of _us.

13 And you _may_ not _carry _in us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil.

14 For/Because if you _all _may _forgive to_ the _people the transgressions of _them, the the heavenly father of _you _all ˓will˒_ also _be _forgiving to _you _all.

15 But if you _all _may_ not _forgive to_ the _people the transgressions of _them, neither ˓will˒_ the father of _you _all _be _forgiving the transgressions of _you _all.

16 And whenever you _all _may _be _fasting, be_ not _becoming downcast like the hypocrites, because/for they _are _disfiguring the appearances of _them, so _that they _may _be _seen by _the people fasting.
Truly, I _am _saying to _you _all, they _are _receiving _fully the reward of _them.

17 But you fasting, anoint the head of _you and wash the face of _you,

18 so _that you _may_ not _be _seen by _the people fasting, but to _the father of _you who is in the secret, and the father of _you, the one seeing in the secret, will _be _giving _back to _you.

OET Luke 11:1-13

11:1 Yeshua teaches about prayer

(Mat. 6:9-13; 7:7-11)

11 One time Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) was at a place praying, and when he finished some of his followers asked him, “Master, Yohan-the-immerser taught his apprentices how to pray. You teach us as well.”

2 So Yeshua told them, “Whenever you all pray, say this:

Father, may all people honour you as their holy God.

May you reign as king over the earth.

3 ⇔Every day give us the food that we need.

4 Forgive us for our sins because we’ve forgiven those who owed something to us.

Don’t bring us into situations where we’re tempted.”

5 Then he told them, “Imagine you had a friend and went to them at midnight and asked, ‘Friend, lend me some bread 6 because a travelling friend of mine arrived at my place, and I haven’t got anything to give him to eat.’ 7 And the one in the other house might reply, ‘Don’t bother me now because the house is locked and the kids are asleep beside me here in the bed. I can’t get up and get anything for you.’ 8 I’m telling all of you that even if that friend wouldn’t get up and give them anything because of their friendship, then the friend will certainly get up and give them some food if they persist in knocking. 9 So this is what I’m telling you: Keep submitting your requests and it’ll be given to you all, keep searching and you’ll all find what you’re looking for, keep knocking and the door will be opened for you all, 10 because everyone who requests will receive, and everyone who searches will find, and everyone who knocks will find opened doors. 11 How many of you fathers, if your child asked you for some fish, you’d give them a snake instead? 12 Or the child would ask for an egg and you’d pass them a scorpion? 13 So if you all know how to give good things to your children despite your being evil, how much more the father in heaven will give the holy spirit to those who ask him.”

11 And it _became at the time him to _be in a_ certain _place praying, when he _ceased, someone of _the apprentices/followers of _him said to him:
master, teach us to _be _praying, as also Yōannaʸs taught the apprentices/followers of _him.

2 And he _said to _them:
Whenever you _all _may _be _praying, be _saying:
father, let_ the name of _you _be _sanctified.
let_ the kingdom of _you.
_come

3 Be _giving the the to _us daily _needed bread of _us, which in _every day.

4 And forgive to _us the sins of _us, because/for also we_ ourselves _are _forgiving to _everyone owing to _us.
And not may _you _carry _in us into temptation.

5 And he _said to them:
Who of you _all will _be _having a_friend, and will _be _going to him at _midnight, and may _say to _him:
Friend, lend three loaves to _me,

6 since a_friend of _me arrived from a_journey to me, and I _am_ not _having what I _will _be _setting _before to _him.

7 And _that one inside answering may _say:
Be_ not _bringing _about to _me troubles, the door has _been _shut already, and the little _children of _me are with me in the bed, I _am_ not _being _able having _risen _up to _give anything to _you.

8 I _am _saying to _you _all, even if ˓will˒_ not _be _giving to _him having _risen _up, because _of that to _be friend of _him, surely because _of the persistence of _him having _been _raised, will _be _giving to _him of _as _much _as he _is _needing.

9 And _I am _saying to _you _all:
Be _requesting, and it _will _be _being _given to _you _all, be _seeking, and you _all _will _be _finding, be _knocking, and it _will _be _being _opened _up to _you _all.

10 For/Because everyone which requesting is _receiving, and the one seeking is _finding, and to _the one knocking it _will _be _being _opened _up.

11 and who of of _you _all the son will _be _requesting the father, a_fish, and instead _of a_fish, will _be _handing _out a_serpent?
to _him

12 or also will _be _requesting an_egg, will _be _handing _out a_scorpion to _him?

13 Therefore if you _all being evil, have _known good gifts to _be _giving to _the children of _you _all, for _how _much more the father who is of heaven will _be _giving the_ holy _spirit to _the ones requesting him?

Persistence, humility and God’s will

OET Luke 18:1-14

18:1 Persistence in prayer

18 Then he told them another parable about how it’s good to always be praying and not to become discouraged: 2 “Once there was a city judge who didn’t revere God and nor did he allow anyone to sway him. 3 Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept going to him saying, ‘Get me justice against my rival.’ 4 At first, he wasn’t interested in the case, but eventually he said to himself, ‘Even if I don’t fear God and I’m not easily pushed around by anyone, 5 this widow is making trouble for me. I’ll fight her case for her so she’ll stop harassing me.’ ”

6 Then the master continued, “Listen to what the ungodly judge is saying. 7 And won’t God also bring justice for his chosen people when they call out to him day and night? He’ll patiently listen to them. 8 I’m telling you that he’ll quickly bring justice to the situation. However, when the son of humanity comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

18:9 Humility in prayer

9 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) also told this parable to some who felt that they were guiltless before God because of their own goodness, and so they scorned others: 10 “Once two men went into the temple to pray—one was a Farisaios party member and the other was a tax-collector. 11 The Farisaios stood there praying quietly, ‘I thank you, God, that I’m not like the rest of the people: swindlers, sinners, adulterers, and even that tax-collector. 12 I fast twice a week and I give a tenth of everything I get.’ 13 But the tax-collector stood at a distance, not even willing to raise his head, instead beating his chest and saying, ‘God, I’m a sinner, take away my guilt.’ 14 I’m telling you all that this man went home after being declared guiltless, not the other one, because all those who praise themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be praised.”[ref]

18:14: Mat 23:12; Luk 14:11.

18 And he _was _speaking a_parable to _them, because/for the way it _to _be _fitting always them to _be _praying and to _be_ not _losing _heart

2 saying:
A_ certain _judge was in a_certain city, not revering the god and not being _swayed by_a_person.

3 And a_widow was in the that city, and she _was _coming to him saying:
Avenge me of the opponent of _me.

4 And he _was_ not _willing for a_time, but after these things he _said to himself:
Even if I _am_ not _revering the god nor I _am _being _swayed a_person,

5 because _of this the widow which surely to _be _bringing _about trouble to _me, I _will _be _avenging her, in _order _that not coming to the_end she _may _be _harassing me.

6 And the master said:
Hear what the judge of_ the _unrighteousness is _saying.

7 And the god by _no _means may_ not _execute the vengeance of _the chosen of _him, which shouting to _him day and night, and is _being _patient over them?

8 I _am _saying to _you _all that he _will _be _executing the vengeance of _them in quickness.
However the son of_ the _man having _come, consequently ˓will˒_he _be _finding the faith on the earth?

9 And he_ also _spoke the this parable to some which having _trusted in themselves that they _are righteous and scorning the others:

10 Two men went _up into the temple to _pray, the one was a_Farisaios_party _member, and the other was a_tax _collector.

11 The Farisaios_party _member having _been _stood was _praying these things to himself:
- god, I _am _giving _thanks to _you that I _am not as the rest of _the people, swindling, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this the tax _collector.

12 I _am _fasting twice of_ the _a_week, I _am _tithing all things, as _many _as I _am _acquiring.

13 But the tax _collector having _stood afar, was_ not _willing not _even his eyes to _lift _up to the sky, but was _striking the chest of _him saying:
- god, be _made _atonement for _me, the sinner.

14 I _am _saying to _you _all, this one came _down to the house of _him having _been _justified, contrary _to that one.
Because everyone which exalting himself will _be _being _humbled, but the one humbling himself will _be _being _exalted.

OET Luke 22:39-46

22:39 Yeshua prays in the garden

(Mark 14:32-42; Mat. 26:36-46)

39 Then leaving the upper room, he went to the Mt. of Olives as usual and his apprentices followed him. 40 When they got to the place, he told them, “You all pray that you won’t give in to temptation.”

41 Then he went on several metres, and kneeling on the ground, he prayed, 42 “Father, if you want, allow me to avoid this suffering, however, I want to do what you want—not just what I want.” 43 ◘ 44 ◘

45 Then standing again after praying, he went back to the apprentices and found that they’d fallen asleep from the sorrow 46 and he asked them, “Why are you all sleeping? Sit up and pray that you won’t give in to temptation.”

39 And having _come _out, he _was _gone according _to the custom to the Mount of_ the _Olives, and the apprentices/followers also followed after _him.

40 And having _become to the place, he _said to _them:
Be _praying to_ not _come _in into temptation.

41 And he was _withdrawn from them about a_stone throw, and having _knelt the knees, he _was _praying

42 saying:
father, if you _are _wishing, take _away this the cup from me, however not the will of _me, but the let_ your will _be _becoming.

45 And having _risen _up from the prayer, having _come to the apprentices/followers, he _found them being _fallen _asleep from the sorrow,

46 and he _said to _them:
Why are _you _all _sleeping?
Having _risen _up be _praying that you _all _may_ not _come _in into temptation.

OET 1 Yhn (1 Yohan or 1 Jhn) 5:14-15

14 And so we have confidence in God that if we request anything according to his will, he hears us 15 whatever we’re requesting, and we know that we’ll receive what we requested.

14 and this is the confidence that we _are _having toward him:
that if we _may _be _requesting anything according _to the will of _him, he _is _hearing from _us.

15 And if we _have _known that he _is _hearing from _us, whatever wishfully we _may _be _requesting, we _have _known that we _are _having the requests that we _have _requested from him.