The Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 13:2

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~AD 34

1830 Edition

Therefore, when ye shall do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as will hypocrites do in the synagogues, and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward.

Influences

Matthew 6:2 (KJV)
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:2 (KJV)
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Changes

Therefore, when ye shall do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as will hypocrites do in the synagogues, and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily, I say unto you, Tthey have their reward.

Simple English

When you give to the poor, don’t blow a trumpet in front of you. That’s what people who pretend do in the churches and on the streets. They want people to think they are great. I tell you the truth. That’s all the reward they will get.

Paraphrase

When you give to someone in need, don’t announce it like hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, hoping everyone will praise them. I’m telling you the truth: that applause is all the reward they’ll get.

Notes

13:2

"Alms" is a Greek word that has no Hebrew counterpart. This presents a significant issue, since these are Hebrew-speaking Israelites who left Jerusalem around 600 B.C., prior to the Babylonian captivity. It is highly unlikely they would have had any working knowledge of Greek, as it would be another 250 years—and after the rise and fall of two Aramaic-speaking empires—before Alexander the Great brought Greek influence to prominence. Greek did not become a widespread trade language until after about 350 B.C. Therefore, it is difficult to justify the presence of Greek-derived names or terms in their everyday language. Given that the people in the Book of Mormon are said to have had no contact with the Old World after 600 B.C., the appearance of Greek elements in the text is best understood as a linguistic anachronism.