Matthew 6:1-18

Here is my translation of Matthew 6:1-18. Please critique. In my translation I have always distinguished between 2nd person singular and 2nd person plural by using "you" and "y o u" respectfully. I have always thought about dropping this practice as it can be distracting when viewed on the page and which is intended can usually be determined by the context. However, I believe it is very helpful with this particular passage. The section deals primarily with prayer and fasting. The "y o u" sections in this section seem to be referring to corporate prayer and fasting while the "you" sections seem to be referring to private prayer and fasting.

6"Pay attention that you are not giving y o ur alms in front of people, in order to be noticed by them; otherwise y o u have no reward with y o ur Father in the heavens. ² Therefore, when you are giving alms, do not sound a trumpet before you just as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the lanes in order that they may be glorified by people; amen, I am saying to y o u, they have received their reward. ³ But when you are giving alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ in order that your alms may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in the open.

⁵ "And when you are praying, you will not be just as the hypocrites, for they love to be praying standing in the synagogues and at the street corners, in order that they may be visible to people; amen, I am saying to y o u that they have received their reward. ⁶ But you, when you are praying, enter your storeroom, and after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret, and your Father who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

⁷ "And when y o u are praying, do not babble on just as the Gentiles; for they think that they will be listened to because of their wordiness. ⁸ Do not, then, be like them; for y o ur Father knows the things of which y o u have need before y o u ask Him.

⁹ "Therefore, y o u, be praying as follows:

"Our Father who is in the heavens;

let Your name be hallowed;

¹⁰ let Your reign come;

let Your will be done,

as in heaven, also on the earth;

¹¹ give us today our bread that is coming;

¹² and forgive us our debts,

as also we are forgiving our debtors;

¹³ and do not bring us into temptation,

rather deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the reign and the power and the glory into the ages; Amen.

¹⁴ For if y o u forgive people their transgressions, y o ur heavenly Father will also forgive y o u; ¹⁵ but if y o u do not forgive people their transgressions, neither will your Father forgive y o ur transgressions.

¹⁶ "And when y o u are fasting, do not be just as the hypocrites, gloomy-faced; for they disfigure their faces in order that they may be visible to people as fasting; amen, I am saying to y o u that they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you are fasting, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ in order that you may not be visible to people as fasting, rather to your Father who is in the secret, and your Father who sees in the secret will reward you.