| For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. | “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” |
| For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. | For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. |
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| For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. | “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” |
| Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. | Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. |
| In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. | When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. |
| Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. | Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. |
| Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. | Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. |
| For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. | For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. |
| O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. | O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. |
| For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. | No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. |
| And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. | And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” |
| Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. | Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. |
| For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. | For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us. |
| And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. | And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. |
| Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. | Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. |
| And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. | And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! |
| It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. | Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost. |
| Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. | You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! |
| Give us this day our daily bread. | Give us today the food we need. |
| The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us. | May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. |
| So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us. | So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. |
| Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. | May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. |
| So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. | Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. |
| Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. | Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. |
| Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. | He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
