However, due to your abundant mercy you did not do away with them altogether; you did not abandon them. For you are a merciful and compassionate God.

and if ¹  God ²  is gracious to him and says, ‘Spare ³  him from going down to the place of corruption, I have found a ransom for him,’ ⁴ 

All ¹  were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They ²  said, “Isn’t this ³  Joseph’s son?”

As for me, I said: ¹  “O Lord, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you!

When ¹  he speaks graciously, ²  do not believe him, ³  for there are seven ⁴  abominations ⁵  within him.

Lord, be merciful to us! We wait for you. Give us strength each morning! ¹  Deliver us when distress comes. ² 

Hate what is wrong, love what is right! Promote ¹  justice at the city gate! ²  Maybe the Lord, the God who commands armies, will have mercy on ³  those who are left from ⁴  Joseph. ⁵ 

But the Lord had mercy on them and felt pity for them. ¹  He extended his favor to them ²  because of the promise he had made ³  to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has been unwilling to destroy them or remove them from his presence to this very day. ⁴ 

But now plead for God’s favor ¹  that he might be gracious to us. ²  “With this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?” asks the Lord who rules over all.

Hear me, ¹  O Lord, when I cry out! Have mercy on me and answer me!

As for you, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up, so I can pay them back!” ¹ 

Have mercy on me, ¹  O Lord, for I cry out to you all day long!

The Lord then addressed good, comforting words to the angelic messenger who was speaking to me.

For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. ¹  Indeed, the Lord is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed. ² 

For people will live in Zion; in Jerusalem ¹  you will weep no more. ²  When he hears your cry of despair, he will indeed show you mercy; when he hears it, he will respond to you. ³ 

Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love ¹  – often relenting from calamitous punishment. ² 

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

When Joseph looked up ¹  and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, whom you told me about?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” ² 

Please take my present ¹  that was brought to you, for God has been generous ²  to me and I have all I need.” ³  When Jacob urged him, he took it. ⁴ 

For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and sons will be shown mercy by their captors and return to this land. The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate; he will not reject you ¹  if you return to him.”