8-11 “I don’t think the way you think.
    The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
        God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
    so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
    and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
    and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
    producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
    not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
    they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.

12-13 “So you’ll go out in joy,
    you’ll be led into a whole and complete life.
The mountains and hills will lead the parade,
    bursting with song.
All the trees of the forest will join the procession,
    exuberant with applause.
No more thistles, but giant sequoias,
    no more thornbushes, but stately pines—
Monuments to me, to God,
    living and lasting evidence of God.”

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“For my thoughts(A) are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”(B)
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,(C)
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.(D)
10 As the rain(E) and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,(F)
    so that it yields seed(G) for the sower and bread for the eater,(H)
11 so is my word(I) that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,(J)
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose(K) for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy(L)
    and be led forth in peace;(M)
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song(N) before you,
and all the trees(O) of the field
    will clap their hands.(P)
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers(Q) the myrtle(R) will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,(S)
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

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