In many congregations, we pray the King James Version of the Lord's Prayer, usually at the end of a spoken prayer that is led by a pastor.  Throughout this project I have wondered what it would take to teach a new version of the Lord's Prayer that sounds more like the way we use English when we pray? I don't have much expectation that this tradition can adapt throughout the churches. 

We first tested this version of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father who is in heaven;
  let your name be holy.
Let your kingdom come;
  let what you will be done on earth as it’s done in heaven.
Give us the bread we need for today.
And forgive us the things we should have done but didn’t,
  just as we also forgive those who don’t treat us as they should.
And don’t bring us to the place where we will be tempted,
  but rescue us from the evil one.


The following CEB version of this base prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 was developed after useful criticism from bloggers at betterbibles.com:

Pray like this:
Our Father who is in heaven,
  uphold the holiness of your name.
Bring in your kingdom
  so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven.
Give us the bread we need for today.
Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you,
  just as we also forgive those who have wronged us.
And don’t lead us into temptation,
  but rescue us from the evil one.


The Lord's prayer is compressed efficiently in Luke 11:2-4:

“When you pray, say:
‘Father, uphold the holiness of your name.
Bring in your kingdom.
Give us the bread we need for today.
Forgive us our sins,
  for we also forgive everyone who has wronged us.
And don’t lead us into temptation.’ ”


Forgive us our translations, for we also forgive everyone who has mistranslated us.

~~ Paul Franklyn
Associate Publisher

Comments My thought Created by Cheryl in 7/15/2010 5:01:58 AM I like the new translation. When I talk to God I surely do not use KJV language, so when I read this 'prayer', I feel it as my language, and not as a hyped up religious language. God understands me as who I am and understands the language I use when I talk to Him. I also like to read in a language that is common to me so that my mind is understanding what I am reading. Thank you for the CEB and for the ministry you provide. Remember, you will not please all people no matter what you do, so just strive to do what the Lord is leading you to do in all that you do. :-) New Comment Created by Methodist Preacher in 6/17/2010 1:28:58 AM I am a pastor and I love this new Bible just from reading this verse! The first translation I ever read was Today's English Version from the 1970's. I especially liked the stick figures! As a pastor I want people to read a Bible that is close to original languages but understandable for everyday use. Interesting changes Created by Anonymous in 6/13/2010 4:53:53 AM I think the newer version of the CEB's rendering of the Lord's Prayer definitely shows some improvement! Particularly, the new version of the "debts/debtor" ("trespasses") strikes me as much better than the original CEB rendering. comment Created by Rik in 6/7/2010 7:58:44 AM I believe the reason the KJV prayer is so memorable - despite the archaic language - is the lyrical poetic quality of the text. Many more contemporary versions - while perhaps more accurate - have abandoned the sense of meter. I worked up this version: Our Father above the heavens, Your name is revered, your reign appears, your will arises over all the earth even as above the heavens. Give us the bread we need each day. Also forgive us our sin against you, even as we forgive others who sin against us. Also carry us away from adversity, indeed rescue us from evil. I do not pretend to be a greek scholar or a poet, but I lift up this imperfect version to suggest that attention to rhythm, alliteration, repetition, and parallel could help us move away from KJV. Memorize? Created by Eric R in 5/26/2010 8:08:31 AM I guess I'm lucky that I belong to a church that updates the LP in its liturgy far less often than for each and every new Bible translation. Wrong verse Created by biblecritic.com in 5/26/2010 5:38:00 AM The Lord's Prayer is in Matthew 6, not 5. :-) I still prefer the LP in the KJV, despite its weaknesses. New Comment Created by Jeff Harre in 5/25/2010 1:15:09 AM I've learned three different versions, and now I find myself stumbling over the "traditional" language of our BCP where I used to stumble over the contemporary language. So, yes, we will memorize another version! Your Name Title Comment New Comment Enter the code