Compaixão

13 As a father pities* his children,

so Yahweh pities* those who fear him.

15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger* and abundant in loyal love and faithfulness.

3 Because your loyal love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

22 The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease;

his compassions do not come to an end.

23 They are new in the morning,

great is your faithfulness.

15 Can a woman forget her suckling,

refrain from having compassion on the child of her womb?

Indeed, these may forget,

but* I, I will not forget you!

16 Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are continually before me.

Yahweh Will Show Mercy

18 Therefore Yahweh waits to be gracious to you,

and therefore he will rise up to show you mercy,

for Yahweh is a God of justice;

blessed are all those who wait for him.

18 Who is a God like you, forgiving sin

and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever,

for he delights in loyal love.

6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah,

and the house of Joseph I will save.

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

and they will be as if I had not rejected them,

for I am Yahweh their God, and I will answer them.

9 "Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Judge with trustworthy justice, and show* steadfast love and compassion to one another.*10 You must not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, and the needy. You must not devise evil in your heart against one another.’*

Appeal for New Behavior

12 Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,

32 Become* kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.

Called to Inherit a Blessing

8 And finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, showing mutual affection, compassionate, humble,

17 But whoever has the world’s material possessions and observes his brother in need* and shuts his heart against him, how does the love of God reside in him?

Thanksgiving for God’s Compassion and Comfort

3 Blessed is 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 all affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who has been tempted in all things in the same way, without sin.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

Final Greetings and Benediction

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice, be restored, be encouraged, be in agreement*, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.