Love and Mercy, Mercy and Grace *

I'm gonna start with Scripture a little differently this time. I am captivated by the varied interpretations and yet the same interpretation of this passage in the selected Bible versions below.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. 
Proverbs 33:18-22 English Standard Version

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Proverbs 33:18-22 King James Version

18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Proverbs 33:18-22 New International Version

18 But Adonai’s eyes watch over those who fear him, over those who wait for his grace
19 to rescue them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 We are waiting for Adonai; he is our help and shield.
21 For in him our hearts rejoice, because we trust in his holy name.
22 May your mercy, Adonai, be over us, because we put our hope in you.

Proverbs 33:18-22 Complete Jewish Bible

I read it first in the English Standard Version, and decided to look up "steadfast" of  "steadfast love." When I started to read it in the different versions, I realized how widely the Hebrew word - Checed - was translated, and yet they all define God's character and who He is to us and what He has done for us! 

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. 

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

May your mercy, Adonai, be over us, because we put our hope in you.

The Truth of the matter is He is ALL those things and the ONLY reason we can put our hope in Him.

Prayer:

Father,

          Let Your Name be glorified!! May Your steadfast love and mercy, Your unfailing love, Your grace and Your mercy be over us, O God, because we put our hope in YOU.  In Jesus' Name we pray.