English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
22 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.
22
He continued this subject with his disciples. "Don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion.
23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
23
There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
24
Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
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"Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?
26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
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If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
27
Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance - but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
28
If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.
29
"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving.
30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
30
People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.
31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
31
Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
32 "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
32
Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
33
"Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
34
It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.