“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. |
|
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 do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like 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 human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. |
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! | Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust 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 when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. |
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, or 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? | Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me 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 have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. |
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. | Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent. |
“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, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. |
You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. | For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. |
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 mother; also, 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 does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult 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 a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries 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.” | The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “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. | Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome 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 are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? |
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. | So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature 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. | From there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul. |
We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. | The Almighty —we cannot find him; he is great in power and justice, and abundant righteousness he will not violate. |
To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. | With the loyal you show yourself loyal; with the blameless you 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 encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet 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 God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. |
I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” | I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” |