Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible
Christian Standard Bible ®
Matthew 6:3
But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- ChipParallel Translations
King James Version (1611)
But when thou doest almes, let not thy left hand know, what thy right doeth:
But when thou doest almes, let not thy left hand know, what thy right doeth:
King James Version
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
English Standard Version
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
New American Standard Bible
"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
New Century Version
So when you give to the poor, don't let anyone know what you are doing.
So when you give to the poor, don't let anyone know what you are doing.
Amplified Bible
"But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy],
"But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy],
Geneva Bible (1587)
But when thou doest thine almes, let not thy left hand knowe what thy right hand doeth,
But when thou doest thine almes, let not thy left hand knowe what thy right hand doeth,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Legacy Standard Bible
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Berean Standard Bible
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Contemporary English Version
When you give to the poor, don't let anyone know about it.
When you give to the poor, don't let anyone know about it.
Complete Jewish Bible
But you, when you do tzedakah, don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
But you, when you do tzedakah, don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
Darby Translation
But thou, when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does;
But thou, when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does;
Easy-to-Read Version
So when you give to the poor, don't let anyone know what you are doing.
So when you give to the poor, don't let anyone know what you are doing.
George Lamsa Translation
But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing;
But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing;
Good News Translation
But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it.
But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it.
Lexham English Bible
But you, when you practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But you, when you practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Literal Translation
But you doing merciful deeds, do not let your left know what your right hand does,
But you doing merciful deeds, do not let your left know what your right hand does,
American Standard Version
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Bible in Basic English
But when you give money, let not your left hand see what your right hand does:
But when you give money, let not your left hand see what your right hand does:
Hebrew Names Version
But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,
But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,
International Standard Version
But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Etheridge Translation
But thou, when thou art doing thy alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth,
But thou, when thou art doing thy alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth,
Murdock Translation
But thou, when doing alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
But thou, when doing alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But when thou doest [thyne] almes, let not thy left hande knowe, what thy ryght hande doeth,
But when thou doest [thyne] almes, let not thy left hande knowe, what thy ryght hande doeth,
English Revised Version
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
World English Bible
But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,
But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But when thou dost alms, let not thy left-hand know what thy right-hand doth:
But when thou dost alms, let not thy left-hand know what thy right-hand doth:
Weymouth's New Testament
But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing,
But when you are giving in charity, let not your left hand perceive what your right hand is doing,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But whanne thou doist almes, knowe not thi left hond what thi riyt hond doith, that thin almes be in hidils,
But whanne thou doist almes, knowe not thi left hond what thi riyt hond doith, that thin almes be in hidils,
Update Bible Version
But when you do alms, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does:
But when you do alms, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does:
Webster's Bible Translation
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
New English Translation
But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
New King James Version
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
New Living Translation
But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
New Life Bible
When you give, do not let your left hand know what your right hand gives.
When you give, do not let your left hand know what your right hand gives.
New Revised Standard
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, thou, when doing an alms, let not, thy left hand, know what thy right hand is doing;
But, thou, when doing an alms, let not, thy left hand, know what thy right hand is doing;
Douay-Rheims Bible
But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.
But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.
Revised Standard Version
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But whe thou doest thine almes let not thy lyfte had knowe what thy righte had doth
But whe thou doest thine almes let not thy lyfte had knowe what thy righte had doth
Young's Literal Translation
`But thou, doing kindness, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth,
`But thou, doing kindness, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whe thou doest almes, let not thy lefte hande knowe, what thy righte hande doth;
But whe thou doest almes, let not thy lefte hande knowe, what thy righte hande doth;
Mace New Testament (1729)
but when you give alms, "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth:"
but when you give alms, "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth:"
Simplified Cowboy Version
But when you do help someone out, don't let the glove on your left hand know what the glove on your right hand is doin'.
But when you do help someone out, don't let the glove on your left hand know what the glove on your right hand is doin'.
Contextual Overview
1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness 2So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 3But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
let: Matthew 8:4, Matthew 9:30, Matthew 12:19, Mark 1:44, John 7:4
Reciprocal: Proverbs 21:14 - in secret Matthew 25:37 - when Acts 5:2 - laid 1 Timothy 5:25 - cannot
Cross-References
Genesis 6:1
When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them,
When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them,
Genesis 6:13
Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
Genesis 6:14
“Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.
“Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.
Genesis 6:15
This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
Genesis 6:16
You are to make a roof, finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.
You are to make a roof, finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.
Genesis 6:18
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.
Genesis 6:20
Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive.
Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from the animals that crawl on the ground according to their kinds—will come to you so that you can keep them alive.
Numbers 11:17
Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.
Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.
Nehemiah 9:30
You were patient with them for many years,and your Spirit warned them through your prophets,but they would not listen.Therefore, you handed them over to the surrounding peoples.
You were patient with them for many years,and your Spirit warned them through your prophets,but they would not listen.Therefore, you handed them over to the surrounding peoples.
Psalms 78:39
He remembered that they were only flesh,a wind that passes and does not return.
He remembered that they were only flesh,a wind that passes and does not return.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But when thou dost alms,.... Do it so privately, and with so much secrecy, that, if it was possible, thou mightest not know it thyself, much less make it known to others:
let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth; acquaint not thy nearest and dearest friend with it; let not one that sits at thy left hand know what thou art doing with thy right hand; it is a proverbial and hyperbolical phrase, expressing the secrecy of the action. It is a Jewish canon p, that
"he that gives a gift to his friend out of love, may make it known, ××× ×× ×צ×ק×, "but not if it be by way of alms".''
p Piske Tosephot in Sabbat. c. 1. art. 134.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Let not thy left hand know ... - This is a proverbial expression, signifying that the action should be done as secretly as possible. The Hebrews often attribute actions to members which properly belong to persons. The encouragement for performing our acts of charity in secret is that it will be pleasing to God; that he will see the act, however secret it may be, and will openly reward it. If the reward is not granted in this life, it will be in the life to come. In multitudes of cases, however, alms given to the poor are âlent to the Lordâ Proverbs 19:17, and will be repaid in this life. Rarely, perhaps never, has it been found that the man who is liberal to the poor has ever suffered by it in his worldly circumstances.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 6:3. Let not thy left hand know — In many cases, works of charity must be hidden from even our nearest relatives, who, if they knew, would hinder us from doing what God has given us power and inclination to perform. We must go even farther; and conceal them as far as is possible from ourselves, by not thinking of them, or eyeing them with complacency. They are given to GOD, and should be hidden in HIM.
