16. He call'd for famine on the land,he brake the staff of bread:
17. But yet he sent a man before,by whom they should be fed;Ev'n Joseph, whom unnat'rallysell for a slave did they;
18. Whose feet with fetters they did hurt,and he in irons lay;
19. Until the time that his word cameto give him liberty;The word and purpose of the Lorddid him in prison try.
20. Then sent the king, and did commandthat he enlarg'd should be:He that the people's ruler wasdid send to set him free.
21. A lord to rule his familyhe rais'd him, as most fit;To him of all that he possess'dhe did the charge commit:
22. That he might at his pleasure bindthe princes of the land;And he might teach his senatorswisdom to understand.
23. The people then of Israeldown into Egypt came;And Jacob also sojournedwithin the land of Ham.
24. And he did greatly by his pow'rincrease his people there;And stronger than their enemiesthey by his blessing were.
25. Their heart he turned to envyhis folk maliciously,With those that his own servants wereto deal in subtilty.
26. His servant Moses he did send,Aaron his chosen one.
27. By these his signs and wonders greatin Ham's land were made known.
28. Darkness he sent, and made it dark;his word they did obey.