The Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father, is the most widely prayed Christian prayer in the world. Given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9–13) in answer to his disciples' request, "Lord, teach us to pray," the Lord's Prayer models what to bring to God and in what order: worship, surrender, provision, forgiveness, and protection. Every phrase does something specific, and the whole is short enough to be prayed in a breath and deep enough to be prayed for a lifetime.
On this page you'll find the full traditional English text, the shorter ecumenical form, its scriptural sources (Matthew and Luke), a plain-language walkthrough of what each line means, and original prayers that expand from it. Whether you know the Lord's Prayer by heart from childhood or you're praying it for the first time today, let the words carry you.
The Lord's Prayer — Traditional English (Our Father in Heaven)
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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer — Ecumenical / Contemporary Wording
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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
A Short Prayer to Pray Before Praying the Lord's Prayer
Lord Jesus, You told us not to heap up words but to pray as You taught. Steady my heart in this moment, and let each phrase of Your prayer become mine. Amen.
A Prayer Expanding the Lord's Prayer, Line by Line
Our Father in heaven — thank You that I am welcomed as a child, not a stranger. Hallowed be Your name — let my life today honor who You are. Your kingdom come, Your will be done — where my plans and Your purposes disagree, I choose Yours. Give us this day our daily bread — provide what I need for today, and teach me to receive it with thanks. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us — I lay down every grudge, and I ask for the mercy I've been slow to give. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil — keep me from what would harm my soul, and guard the ones I love. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
A Nighttime Prayer Modeled on the Lord's Prayer
Father in heaven, at the close of this day I lift Your name above the noise of it. Your kingdom is coming even when I could not see it working. Thank You for the bread of this day, and forgive me where I fell short. Guard my sleep from what would trouble it, and deliver me and mine from harm. Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Amen.
Scripture to pray
Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.— Matthew 6:9–13 (ESV)
When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.— Luke 11:2–4 (ESV)
When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.— Matthew 6:6 (ESV)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lord's Prayer?
The Lord's Prayer is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples when they asked how to pray. Recorded in Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:2–4, it is short (about 60 words in English), begins with worship ("Hallowed be Your name"), asks for provision and forgiveness, and ends with a plea for protection. It is prayed by Christians of nearly every tradition and is often the first prayer children are taught.
Where is the Lord's Prayer in the Bible?
The Lord's Prayer appears in two Gospels. The fullest version is in Matthew 6:9–13, as part of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. A shorter version is in Luke 11:2–4, given when a disciple asked, "Lord, teach us to pray." The closing doxology ("For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory") is not in the earliest Matthew manuscripts but has been part of Christian worship since at least the first century.
Is the Our Father the same as the Lord's Prayer?
Yes. "The Our Father" and "the Lord's Prayer" are two names for the same prayer. Catholics most often call it the Our Father (from its opening words, Pater Noster in Latin), while most Protestants call it the Lord's Prayer. The two names describe the same short prayer Jesus taught.
How do you pray the Lord's Prayer?
You can pray it word for word from memory, read it slowly aloud, or pray it as a template, pausing after each line to add your own words. A traditional practice is to pray it three times a day — morning, midday, and evening — matching the ancient rhythm of daily prayer. Praying it slowly, one line at a time, keeps it from becoming a routine you rush through.
What does "hallowed be thy name" mean?
"Hallowed" means "held holy." The phrase is a plea that God's name be honored — in your own heart first, and then everywhere. It is worship before it is a request, orienting the whole prayer toward God before it turns to your needs. Praying "hallowed be thy name" is asking that God's character be respected in how you live today.
Is the Lord's Prayer the same in every language?
The Lord's Prayer has been translated into more than a thousand languages. The traditional English version above is based on the King James Bible; the ecumenical form is a modern rendering agreed on by many denominations. Catholics in the U.S. often close with "deliver us from evil" and add the doxology at Mass; most Protestants include the doxology in the prayer itself.
Why does the Lord's Prayer say "trespasses" in some versions and "debts" in others?
Both words translate the same underlying Greek term (opheilēma), which literally means a debt or what is owed. The King James Bible — and the version most familiar to Catholics and Anglicans — renders it "trespasses," following the Tyndale/Anglican prayer-book tradition. Many Protestant traditions, especially those following the Presbyterian and Reformed prayer-book wording, use "debts" and "debtors" instead, which is closer to a literal translation of Matthew 6:12. Neither wording is more "correct" than the other; they're two established English translation traditions of the same original phrase, and Luke's Gospel (11:4) uses "sins" as a third rendering.