8. He will keep his covenant for ever,his promises for a thousand generations.
9. He will keep the agreement he made with Abrahamand his promise to Isaac.
10. The Lord made a covenant with Jacob,one that will last for ever.
11. “I will give you the land of Canaan,” he said.“It will be your own possession.”
12. God's people were few in number,strangers in the land of Canaan.
13. They wandered from country to country,from one kingdom to another.
14. But God let no one oppress them;to protect them, he warned the kings:
15. “Don't harm my chosen servants;do not touch my prophets.”
16. The Lord sent famine to their countryand took away all their food.
17. But he sent a man ahead of them,Joseph, who had been sold as a slave.
18. His feet were kept in chains,and an iron collar was round his neck,
19. until what he had predicted came true.The word of the Lord proved him right.
20. Then the king of Egypt had him released;the ruler of nations set him free.
21. He put him in charge of his governmentand made him ruler over all the land,
22. with power over the king's officialsand authority to instruct his advisers.
23. Then Jacob went to Egyptand settled in that country.
24. The Lord gave many children to his peopleand made them stronger than their enemies.
25. He made the Egyptians hate his peopleand treat his servants with deceit.