The merciful are those who manifest compassion to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed. Job 23 declares, "I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out." Job 29:12-16.

De barmhjertige er de, der viser mildhed med de fattige, de lidende og de undertrykte. Job siger: »Jeg reddede den arme, der skreg om hjælp, den faderløse, der savnede en hjælper; den, det gik skævt, velsignede mig, jeg frydede enkens hjerte; jeg klædte mig i retfærd, og den i mig, i ret som kappe og hovedbind. Jeg var den blindes øje, jeg var den lammes fod; jeg var de fattiges fader, udreded den mig ukendtes sag.« (Job 29,12-16).