“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
King James Version (KJV)
6:8 Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of - We do not pray to inform God of our wants. Omniscient as he is, he cannot be informed of any thing which he knew not before: and he is always willing to relieve them. The chief thing wanting is, a fit disposition on our part to receive his grace and blessing. Consequently, one great office of prayer is, to produce such a disposition in us: to exercise our dependence on God; to increase our desire of the things we ask for; to us so sensible of our wants, that we may never cease wrestling till we have prevailed for the blessing.
Mt 6:8 For your Father knoweth. Here is given abundant reason for short prayers. Many prayers apparently aim to give God information on matters connected with this world.
Be not yee therefore like vnto them: For your father knoweth what things yee haue neede of, before yee aske him.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
- American Standard Version (1901)
So be not like them; because your Father has knowledge of your needs even before you make your requests to him.
- Basic English Bible
Be not ye therefore like them, for your Father knows of what things ye have need before ye beg [anything] of him.
- Darby Bible
Therefore be ye not like them: for your Father knoweth what things ye need before ye ask him.
- Webster's Bible
Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.
- Weymouth Bible
Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
- World English Bible
Therfor nyle ye be maad lich to hem, for your fadir woot what is nede to you, bifore that ye axen hym.
- Wycliffe Bible
be ye not therefore like to them, for your Father doth know those things that ye have need of before your asking him;
- Youngs Literal Bible