¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts^(A) except their own spirit^(B) within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

¹² For the word of God^(A) is alive^(B) and active.^(C) Sharper than any double-edged sword,^(D) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.^{(E) 13} Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.^(F) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: ²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Dear friends,^(A) if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God^(B)

⁷ Then the Lord God formed^(A) a man^[a](B) from the dust^(C) of the ground^(D) and breathed into his nostrils the breath^(E) of life,^(F) and the man became a living being.^(G)

² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(A) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(B) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience^(C) in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel^(D) is veiled,^(E) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^{(F) 4} The god^(G) of this age^(H) has blinded^(I) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,^(J) who is the image of God.^{(K) 5} For what we preach is not ourselves,^(L) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(M) and ourselves as your servants^(N) for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a](O) made his light shine in our hearts^(P) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(Q)

¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)