Jesus encouraged his followers to pray with simple sincerity, and refrain from using trite, overwrought phrases. Jesus offered this as a model for prayer: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the power and the glory for ever. Amen.” (KJV, Matthew 6:9–13)

In The Message, a modern take on the Bible, the passage reads this way: “Our Father in heaven, reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.”