Matthew 5:44

But I say to you, love your enemy and ¹  pray for those who persecute you,

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer,

But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

But I say to you, love your enemy and ¹  pray for those who persecute you,

¹ tc Most mss ([D] L [W] Θ Ë¹³ 33 Ï lat) read “bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you,” before “those who persecute you.” But this is surely a motivated reading, importing the longer form of this aphorism from Luke 6:27-28. The shorter text is found in א B ˹ pc sa, as well as several fathers and versional witnesses.