For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. | “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. |
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. | As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. |
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But do not ignore this one fact, beloved: with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. | But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. |
O Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I stand; you perceive my thoughts from a distance. | You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. |
When my anxious thoughts multiplied, your comfort filled my soul with joy. | When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. |
Fix your thoughts on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. | Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. |
It is rash to pledge a sacred gift, or to make a vow and then have second thoughts. | It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. |
For to you a thousand years are like a yesterday that has passed or one of the watches of the night. | A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. |
Therefore, you have no excuse, whoever you may be, when you pass judgment on others. For in judging others you condemn yourself, since you are doing the same things. | You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. |
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand people were added to their number. | Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. |
Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart find favor in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. | May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. |
Come now and let us discuss this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow. Though they are as red as crimson, they shall become as white as wool. | “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” |
If you would seriously consider my reproof, I would pour out my thoughts to you and make my precepts known to you. | Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. |
For you, O God, have put us to the test; you have purified us as silver is refined. | For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. |
You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother. Love your neighbor as yourself. | ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ |
You are a place of refuge for me; you preserve me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah | You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. |
Even though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, even though the olive crop will fail and the orchards will yield no food, even though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, I will continue to rejoice in the Lord, and exult in the God of my salvation. | Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. |
“You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and every other commandment are all summed up in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” | The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” |
What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? | What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? |
Even though I wander through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are at my side, with your rod and your staff that comfort me. | Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. |
Examine me, O God, and know my heart; test me and understand my thoughts. See if I follow an evil way, and guide me on the way to eternity. | Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. |
Keep in mind, therefore, that the Lord, your God, is God. He is a faithful God who keeps his covenant of mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and observe his commandments. | Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. |
Those who live according to the flesh fix their attention on the things of the flesh, while those who live according to the Spirit set their thoughts on spiritual things. | Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. |
But if you seek the Lord, your God, and you strive with all your heart and your soul, you will find him there. | But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. |
You believe that there is one God. You do well to assert that. But even the demons believe and tremble. | You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. |