Matthew 6:34

6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. ¹ 

Matthew 6:27

6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? ² 

Matthew 6:31

6:31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’

Matthew 6:28

6:28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers ³  of the field grow; they do not work ⁴  or spin.

Matthew 10:19

10:19 Whenever ⁵  they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, ⁶  for what you should say will be given to you at that time. ⁷ 

Matthew 6:25

Do Not Worry

6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry ⁸  about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?

[6:34]  ¹ tn Grk “Sufficient for the day is its evil.”

[6:27]  ² tn Or “a cubit to his height.” A cubit (πῆχυς, phcu") can measure length (normally about 45 cm or 18 inches) or time (a small unit, “hour” is usually used [BDAG 812 s.v.] although “day” has been suggested [L&N 67.151]). The term ἡλικία (Jhlikia) is ambiguous in the same way as πῆχυς (phcus). Most scholars take the term to describe age or length of life here, although a few refer it to bodily stature (see BDAG 436 s.v. 3 for discussion). Worry about length of life seems a more natural figure than worry about height. However, the point either way is clear: Worrying adds nothing to life span or height.

[6:28]  ³ tn Traditionally, “lilies.” According to L&N 3.32, “Though traditionally κρίνον has been regarded as a type of lily, scholars have suggested several other possible types of flowers, including an anemone, a poppy, a gladiolus, and a rather inconspicuous type of daisy.” In view of the uncertainty, the more generic “flowers” has been used in the translation.

[6:28]  ⁴ tn Or, traditionally, “toil.” Although it might be argued that “work hard” would be a more precise translation of κοπιάω (kopiaw) here, the line in English reads better in terms of cadence with a single syllable.

[10:19]  ⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:19]  ⁵ tn Grk “how or what you might speak.”

[10:19]  ⁶ tn Grk “in that hour.”

[6:25]  ⁵ tn Or “do not be anxious,” and so throughout the rest of this paragraph.