22 Or “For” (, , , ).
23 Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
24 Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
25 Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
26 Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.
27 Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
28 Heb “ways” (so many English versions).
29 Heb “are higher than.”
30 Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).
31 This verse begins in the Hebrew text with כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר (ki ka’asher, “for, just as”), which is completed by כֵּן (ken, “so, in the same way”) at the beginning of v. 11. For stylistic reasons, this lengthy sentence is divided up into separate sentences in the translation.
32 Heb “so is the word which goes out from my mouth, it does not return to empty.” “Word” refers here to divine promises, like the ones made just prior to and after this (see vv. 7b, 12–13).
33 Heb “but it accomplishes what I desire, and succeeds [on the mission] which I send it.” Verses 8–11 focus on the reliability of the divine word and support the promises before (vv. 3–5, 7b) and after (vv. 12–13) this. Israel can be certain that repentance will bring forgiveness and a new covenantal relationship because God’s promises are reliable. In contrast to human plans (or “thoughts”), which are destined to fail (Ps 94:11) apart from divine approval (Prov 19:21), and human deeds (or “ways”), which are evil and lead to destruction (Prov 1:15–19; 3:31–33; 4:19), God’s plans are realized and his deeds accomplish something positive.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“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 than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not my ways.”

This is the Lord’s declaration.

“For as heaven is higher than earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For just as rain and snow fall from heaven

and do not return there

without saturating the earth

and making it germinate and sprout,

and providing seed to sow

and food to eat,

so my word that comes from my mouth

will not return to me empty,

but it will accomplish what I please

and will prosper in what I send it to do.”

NLTNew Living Translation

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

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.

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens

and stay on the ground to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow,

producing seed for the farmer

and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with my word.

I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to,

and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not my ways,”

declares Yahweh.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For just as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and they do not return there

except they have watered the earth thoroughly

and cause it to bring forth and sprout,

and give seed to the sower

and bread to the eater,

so shall be my word that goes out from my mouth.

It shall not return to me without success,

but shall accomplish what I desire

and be successful in the thing for which I sent it.

KJV 1900King James Version

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are my ways higher than your ways,

And my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down,

And the snow from heaven,

And returneth not thither,

But watereth the earth,

And maketh it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:

It shall not return unto me void,

But it shall accomplish that which I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Public Domain