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Bible Verses About Compassion

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

— Psalms 86:15

"He was moved with compassion" is one of the Gospels' most repeated phrases about Jesus — the word is the same one used for the innards, feeling it where it actually registers. The fifteen verses below are the Bible's direct address to that situation, shown in full KJV text from Psalms 86:15 to Isaiah 49:15.

Quick answer: The best-known verse about compassion here is Psalms 86:15: "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Psalms 103:4 follows close behind: "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;" Both are public-domain translations, shown in full on the cards below with a modern-English toggle.

The 15 verses, in full text

01 · King James Version

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalms 86:15

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02 · King James Version

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Psalms 103:4

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03 · King James Version

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

Psalms 111:4

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04 · King James Version

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Psalms 112:4

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05 · King James Version

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

Psalms 145:8

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06 · King James Version

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Isaiah 30:18

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07 · King James Version

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:36

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08 · King James Version

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 14:14

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09 · King James Version

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Luke 6:36

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10 · King James Version

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

Luke 10:33

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11 · King James Version

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

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12 · King James Version

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:12

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13 · King James Version

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 Peter 3:8

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14 · King James Version

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:17

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15 · King James Version

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Isaiah 49:15

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When to read these verses

These verses are read at the start of attempts and the middle of failures — new habits, new roles, and the Tuesday when the old pattern wins again. The Bible's character verses are training texts: they assume practice, forgive relapse, and keep the standard visible.

How to use this list

Each verse card switches between the King James Version and the World English Bible — the modern renderings of the character commands ("self-control" for "temperance," "steadfastness" for "patience") often clarify what the trait actually requires. Copy the one you are training in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Bible verse about compassion?
Psalms 86:15 is the one most readers land on: "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Psalms 103:4 is the usual second: "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;" The full list of fifteen is on this page — there is no single required verse, and different seasons call for different texts.
Is compassion something God does in you or something you practice?
Scripture holds both together without embarrassment: the fruit of the Spirit is the Spirit's fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the same letter says "walk in the Spirit" — an imperative. The New Testament's pattern is divine provision and human practice: train, and watch what grows. The verses on this page carry both halves.
Where in the Bible does it talk about compassion?
The verses on this page come from 8 books of the Bible — most notably Psalms, Isaiah, Matthew and 5 more — spanning both Old and New Testaments. The distribution itself is worth noticing: Scripture addresses compassion in more than one voice, which is why the page shows whole verses rather than a single proof text.
How do I use a list of verses about compassion?
Read the list once slowly, then keep the one verse that fits your situation close — the copy button places it wherever you will actually see it. Every card can be switched to the World English Bible for modern wording, and the random verse tool at the top of the page can draw one verse from this theme at a time if the whole list is more than today needs.

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