“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” | “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. |
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. | For 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 you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. | But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. |
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. | For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. |
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! | You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. |
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. | O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. |
For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. | For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night. |
Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? | Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? |
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. | Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. |
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. | Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. |
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” | “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” |
You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. | For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. |
You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself. | ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ |
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! | Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. |
For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. | You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah |
For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” | For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” |
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. | Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. |
What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? | What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? |
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. | Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. |
But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him. | But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. |
We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. | As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress. |
To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. | With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless. |
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. | Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. |
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. | You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! |
I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” | O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” |