13 As *a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion *to those who fear him.

15 But you, O Lord, are a God *merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

3 Because your *steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

22 *The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;*

*his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new *every morning;

*great is your faithfulness.

15 *"Can a woman forget her nursing child,

that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget,

yet I will not forget you.

16 Behold, *I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are continually before me.

18 Therefore the Lord*waits to be gracious to you,

and therefore he *exalts himself to show mercy to you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

*blessed are all those who wait for him.

18 *Who is a God like you, *pardoning iniquity

and passing over transgression

*for the remnant of his inheritance?

*He does not retain his anger forever,

because he delights in steadfast love.

6 *"I will strengthen the house of Judah,

and *I will save the house of Joseph.

*I will bring them back *because I have compassion on them,

and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,

for *I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.

9 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, *Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 *do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, *or the poor, and *let none of you devise evil against another in your heart."

12 *Put on then, as *God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, *compassionate hearts, *kindness, *humility, meekness, and patience,

32 *Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, *forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

8 Finally, all of you, *have unity of mind, sympathy, *brotherly love, *a tender heart, and *a humble mind.

17 But *if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet *closes his heart against him, *how does God’s love abide in him?

3 *Blessed be the *God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and *God of all comfort, 4 *who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

15 For we do not have a high priest *who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been *tempted as we are, *yet without sin.

15 *Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

11 Finally, brothers,* rejoice. *Aim for restoration, comfort one another,**agree with one another, *live in peace; and the God of love and *peace will be with you.