'Mercy' in the Bible

Please listen, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness (mercy) to me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, because the disaster will overtake me and I will be killed.

I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants; and I have sent [this message] to tell my lord, so that I may find grace and kindness in your sight.”’”

I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and compassion and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant. With only my staff [long ago] I crossed over this Jordan, and now I have become [blessed and increased into these] two groups [of people].

But the Lord was with Joseph and extended lovingkindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden.

and may God Almighty grant you compassion and favor before the man, so that he will release to you your other brother [Simeon] and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children [Joseph, Simeon, and Benjamin], I am bereaved.”

“You in Your lovingkindness and goodness have led the people whom You have redeemed;In Your strength You have guided them with care to Your holy habitation.

but showing graciousness and steadfast lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have asked; for you have found favor (lovingkindness, mercy) in My sight and I have known you [personally] by name.”

And God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion (lovingkindness) on whom I will show compassion.”

keeping mercy and lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; but He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers upon the children and the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers].”

‘The Lord is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving wickedness and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting (avenging) the wickedness and guilt of the fathers on the children, to the third and fourth generations [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers].’

Please pardon the wickedness and guilt of these people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You have forgiven these people, from Egypt even until now.”

but showing graciousness and lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

and when the Lord your God gives them over to you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall not make a covenant (treaty) with them nor show mercy and compassion to them.

Therefore know [without any doubt] and understand that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who is keeping His covenant and His [steadfast] lovingkindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Nothing from that which is put under the ban (designated for destruction) shall cling to your hand, so that the Lord may turn away from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase, just as He swore to your fathers,

For it was [the purpose] of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle so that Israel would utterly destroy them, that they would receive no mercy, but that Israel would destroy them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Please show us the entrance to the city and we will treat you kindly.”

But My lovingkindness and mercy will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

And the king said, “Is there no longer anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show the goodness and graciousness of God?” Ziba replied to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, [one] whose feet are crippled.”

Then Solomon said, “You have shown Your servant David my father great lovingkindness, because he walked before You in faithfulness and righteousness and with uprightness of heart toward You; and You have kept for him this great lovingkindness, in that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.

He said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, who keeps the covenant and shows lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;For His lovingkindness endures forever.

With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen and designated by name, to give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness endures forever.

I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My steadfast love and mercy away from him, as I took it from him (King Saul) who was before you.

Then Solomon said to God, “You have shown great lovingkindness and mercy to my father David, and have made me king in his place.

in unison when the trumpeters and singers were to make themselves heard with one voice praising and thanking the Lord, and when they raised their voices accompanied by the trumpets and cymbals and [other] instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever,” then the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud,

and he said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on the earth, keeping covenant and showing mercy and lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You [in obedience] with all their heart,

“O Lord God, do not turn away and reject the face of Your anointed; remember Your lovingkindness and faithfulness to Your servant David.”

When all the people of Israel saw how the fire came down and saw the glory and brilliance of the Lord upon the house, they bowed down on the stone pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.”

The priests stood at their posts [ready for service], and the Levites also, with the musical instruments of the Lord which King David had made to praise the Lord, saying, “For His lovingkindness and mercy endure forever,” whenever David offered praise through their ministry. The priests were opposite the Levites blowing the trumpets and all Israel was standing.

When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in their holy (priestly) attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Praise and give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.”

They sang [responsively], praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness (mercy) toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

and has extended His mercy and lovingkindness to me before the king, his advisers, and all the king’s mighty officials. I was strengthened and encouraged, for the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together outstanding men of Israel to go up with me [to Jerusalem].

For we are slaves; yet our God has not abandoned us in our bondage, but has extended lovingkindness to us before the kings of Persia, to revive us to rebuild the house of our God, to repair the site of its ruins and to give us a wall [of protection] in Judah and Jerusalem.

And I said, “Please, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Please, O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [reverently] fear Your Name [Your essence, Your nature, Your attributes, with awe]; and make Your servant successful this day and grant him compassion in the sight of this man [the king].”For I was cupbearer to the king [of Persia].

You, in Your great mercy and compassion,Did not abandon them in the wilderness;The pillar of the cloud did not leave them by day,To lead them in the way,Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way they should go.

“Therefore You handed them over to their enemies who oppressed them.But when they cried out to You in the time of their suffering and distress,You heard them from heaven, and according to Your great compassion You gave them people to rescue them.Who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.

“Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps the covenant and lovingkindness,Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You,Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people,Since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

And I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy. O my God, remember me concerning this also and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

For though I were righteous, I could not answer.I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

“Whether [it be] for correction, or for His earth [generally]Or for [His] mercy and lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have freed me when I was hemmed in and relieved me when I was in distress;Be gracious to me and hear [and respond to] my prayer.

But as for me, I will enter Your house through the abundance of Your steadfast love and tender mercy;At Your holy temple I will bow [obediently] in reverence for You.

Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.

Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.

And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You,For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.

Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord;See how I am afflicted by those who hate me,You who lift me up from the gates of death,

But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness;My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation.

He gives great triumphs to His king,And shows steadfast love and mercy to His anointed,To David and his descendants forever.

For the king [confidently] trusts in the Lord,And through the lovingkindness (faithfulness, goodness) of the Most High he will never be shaken.

Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

Remember, O Lord, Your [tender] compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,For they have been from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;According to Your lovingkindness remember me,For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulnessTo those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.

“Hear, O Lord, be gracious and show favor to me;O Lord, be my helper.”

I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love,Because You have seen my affliction;You have taken note of my life’s distresses,

Be gracious and compassionate to me, O Lord, for I am in trouble;My eye is clouded and weakened by grief, my soul and my body also.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,But he who trusts in and relies on the Lord shall be surrounded with compassion and lovingkindness.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience],On those who hope [confidently] in His compassion and lovingkindness,

Let Your [steadfast] lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,In proportion as we have hoped in You.

Your lovingkindness and graciousness, O Lord, extend to the skies,Your faithfulness [reaches] to the clouds.

Do not withhold Your compassion and tender mercy from me, O Lord;Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;I trust [confidently] in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.

He will send from heaven and save me;He calls to account him who tramples me down. Selah.God will send out His lovingkindness and His truth.

For Your faithfulness and lovingkindness are great, reaching to the heavens,And Your truth to the clouds.

My God in His [steadfast] lovingkindness will meet me;God will let me look triumphantly on my enemies [who lie in wait for me].

But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power;Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your lovingkindness in the morning;For You have been my strongholdAnd a refuge in the day of my distress.

To You, O [God] my strength, I will sing praises;For God is my stronghold [my refuge, my protector, my high tower], the God who shows me [steadfast] lovingkindness.

Also to You, O Lord, belong lovingkindness and compassion,For You compensate every man according to [the value of] his work.

Blessed be God,Who has not turned away my prayerNor His lovingkindness from me.

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable and opportune time;O God, in the greatness of Your favor and in the abundance of Your lovingkindness,Answer me with truth [that is, the faithfulness of Your salvation].

Answer me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is sweet and good and comforting;According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me.

Has His lovingkindness ceased forever?Have His promises ended for all time?

O do not remember against us the sins and guilt of our forefathers.Let Your compassion and mercy come quickly to meet us,For we have been brought very low.

Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord,And grant us Your salvation.

Steadfast love and truth and faithfulness meet together;Righteousness and peace kiss each other.

For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our sins, sending them away, completely letting them go forever and ever];And abundant in lovingkindness and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon You.

For great is Your lovingkindness and graciousness toward me;And You have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol [from death].

But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious,Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

Turn to me, and be gracious to me;Grant Your strength [Your might and the power to resist temptation] to Your servant,And save the son of Your handmaid.

I will sing of the goodness and lovingkindness of the Lord forever;With my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation.

For I have said, “Goodness and lovingkindness will be built up forever;In the heavens [unchangeable and majestic] You will establish Your faithfulness.”

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;Lovingkindness and truth go before You.

“My faithfulness and My steadfast lovingkindness shall be with him,And in My name shall his horn be exalted [great power and prosperity shall be conferred upon him].

“My lovingkindness I will keep for him forevermore,And My covenant will be confirmed to him.

O satisfy us with Your lovingkindness in the morning [now, before we grow older],That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

“Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him;I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never].

If I say, “My foot has slipped,”Your compassion and lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.

He has [graciously] remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;All the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.

For the Lord is good;His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting,His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.

I will sing of [steadfast] lovingkindness and justice;To You, O Lord, I will sing praises.

You will arise and have compassion on Zion,For it is time to be gracious and show favor to her;Yes, the appointed time [the moment designated] has come.

Who redeems your life from the pit,Who crowns you [lavishly] with lovingkindness and tender mercy;

The Lord is merciful and gracious,Slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].

But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who [reverently] fear Him,And His righteousness to children’s children,