36. He let hungry people settle there,and they built a city to live in.
37. They sowed the fields and planted grapevinesand reaped an abundant harvest.
38. He blessed his people, and they had many children;he kept their herds of cattle from decreasing.
39. When God's people were defeated and humiliatedby cruel oppression and suffering,
40. he showed contempt for their oppressorsand made them wander in trackless deserts.