The LORD’s ways and thoughts are in sharp contrast to those of the evil people. His ways and thoughts are superior (verse 9). Verses 8-9 assure the exiles that God has the power to forgive them and bring them back home even though they may not comprehend his actions.

The Hebrew particle ki rendered For is probably an emphatic marker rather than a logical connector here, so it is better translated “Truly” or “Indeed” (Bible en français courant). Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch omit it.

My thoughts are not your thoughts: God’s thoughts and plans are different from those of human beings. When people make plans, there is no guarantee that they will be accomplished. When God makes plans, they will certainly be fulfilled.

Neither are your ways my ways is parallel to the previous line. God’s actions are also different from those of human beings (see the next verse on how they differ). The noun ways referred to the “way of life” of people in the previous verse, but here it points to God’s “actions.” If possible, translators should find a term that can have both these meanings in their language to link verses 7-9.

For says the LORD (literally “declaration of the LORD”), see the comments on 43.10; 49.18; and 52.5. This phrase assures the people that these words come from Yahweh.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• “Now, my thoughts are different from your thoughts,
and my ways are different from your ways,” says Yahweh.

• The LORD says,
“Truly, my plans are not the same as yours,
nor are my ways the same as yours.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .