The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father Prayer, is the central prayer of Christianity, whose words were taught by Jesus and can be found in the Bible, in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
The Lord’s Prayer – Traditional
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from the evil one.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer – Contemporary
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer – Catholic
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Pater Noster – The Lord’s Prayer in Latin
Pater noster, qui es in caelis,
Sanctificetur Nomen Tuum;
Adveniat Regnum Tuum;
Fiat voluntas Tua,
Sicut in caelo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
Sed libera nos a Malo. Amen.
Variations of the Our Father Prayer
Two main versions of the Lord’s Prayer are standard among Christians: the traditional and the contemporary.
Over time, the Lord’s Prayer has been translated and adapted into various languages, reflecting the diversity of Christian traditions. While the core message remains consistent, some minor variations in wording reflect different interpretations and cultural nuances.
Traditional Version
The traditional version of the Lord’s Prayer is based on the wording found in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 6:9-13), widely considered the more authoritative version. This version is often used in Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as in some other Christian denominations.
Contemporary Version
The contemporary version of the Lord’s Prayer is a more modern translation of the prayer often used in worship services and personal prayer. This version is typically used in Protestant churches, as it is more easily understood and relatable to modern audiences.
Catholic Version
Lord’s Prayer Catholic is identical to the traditional version, except it does not contain the final doxology, “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.” This doxology is not originally in the Bible.
This phrase, of disputed authenticity, is included in the 1611 King James Version (KJV) translation of the Bible. This addition became popular, especially among English-speaking Protestants, and became an integral part of their church services and memorization of the Lord’s Prayer.
However, Catholics believe that the Lord’s Prayer should not include elements not in the original biblical texts.
The Lord’s Prayer in the Bible
Here are the Bible references for the Our Father prayer, using the New International Version (NIV) translation.
The first passage in the Bible is Matthew 6:9-13, New International Version (NIV)
9 This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
The following Bible passage is Luke 11:2-4, New International Version (NIV)
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.'”
Our Father in Heaven Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer, also known as Our Father in Heaven or Our Father prayer, is a powerful prayer taught by Jesus himself. Christians have used it for millennia.
It provides a model for personal prayer with a clear structure: addressed to God the Father, Worship, Acknowledge, Petition, Confess, and Request protection against evil.
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Although the wording in translations of the biblical texts has changed throughout history, the basic idea remains the same. It is a prayer from the mouth of the Lord for guidance, forgiveness, and protection.
