Pope Francis, whose candor and manner of speaking have that ability to provoke controversy, raised a few eyebrows when last week he took issue with translations of the Lord’s Prayer that say, “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
It sounds, that first part, he points out (since we are praying to God), like He’s the one Who leads us into temptation (when of course it’s the flesh or evil). The Catholic Church in France opts to use the phrase “do not let us fall into temptation” as an alternative, pointed out the Holy Father, something he believes should be done worldwide.
It is certainly a talking point. An original version of Matthew 26 in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, is, “And do not pass us through trial…” Thus, the Pope appears correct, in that it strays from the original. Elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus told those listening to “pray that you are not put to the test,” so perhaps that’s the best translation (“lead us not to be tested” or “do not bring us to the time of trial,” as some translations put it), although “lead us not into temptation” can be read as indicating the same.
We submit that an equally interesting discussion concerns the second part of the line, the phrase: “but deliver us from evil.”
That’s one translation. The original — and in our view, more powerful — interpretation was, “deliver from the evil one.” In Matthew 6:13, the Syriac translation of the Bible (Pšīttā) has bīšā (ܒܝܫܐ), which is masculine gender, determinate state, singular of the adjective “bad, evil” — so the most literal translation would be “the evil one.” The abstract noun “evil, badness” is bīšūṯā.
This is eastern Aramaic, and while Jesus spoke western Aramaic, likely in both dialects these words were the same.
Why go back to it?
The original is more specific and evil is personal. Specificity in spiritual warfare is very important, say exorcists — who cite the power of naming spirits while casting them out. When “evil” stands alone it is generalized.
In the fourth century a Church father named Clement, referring to Christ, noted: “He said, Let your yea be yea, and your nay nay; for what is more than these is of the evil one [Matthew 5:37; James 5:12]. Also, in the prayer which He delivered to us, we have it said, Deliver us from the evil one.”
It is a plea, the Lord’s Prayer, that in effect is a deliverance prayer — and has more of that effect when we are direct instead of generic, when we enter into direct expulsion of he who deceives the world.
— MHB
Versions of the verse:
New International Version
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
New Living Translation
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
English Standard Version
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Berean Study Bible
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Berean Literal Bible
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’
New American Standard Bible
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
King James Bible
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
International Standard Version
And never bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
NET Bible
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
New Heart English Bible
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And lead us not to temptation but deliver us from evil, for yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, for the eternity of eternities.’
GOD’S WORD Translation
Don’t allow us to be tempted. Instead, rescue us from the evil one.
New American Standard 1977
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]’
Jubilee Bible 2000
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
King James 2000 Bible
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
American King James Version
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For your is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
American Standard Version
And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Darby Bible Translation
and lead us not into temptation, but save us from evil.
English Revised Version
And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Webster’s Bible Translation
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Weymouth New Testament
and bring us not into temptation, but rescue us from the Evil one.’
World English Bible
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
Young’s Literal Translation
‘And mayest Thou not lead us to temptation, but deliver us from the evil, because Thine is the reign, and the power, and the glory — to the ages. Amen.