4. Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!Seek his presence continually!
5. Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,
6. O children of Abraham, God’s servant,you descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen ones!
7. He is the Lord our God;he carries out judgment throughout the earth.
8. He always remembers his covenantal decree,the promise he made to a thousand generations –
9. the promise he made to Abraham,the promise he made by oath to Isaac!
10. He gave it to Jacob as a decree,to Israel as a lasting promise,
11. saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaanas the portion of your inheritance.”
12. When they were few in number,just a very few, and resident aliens within it,
13. they wandered from nation to nation,and from one kingdom to another.
14. He let no one oppress them;he disciplined kings for their sake,
15. saying,“Don’t touch my chosen ones!Don’t harm my prophets!”
16. He called down a famine upon the earth;he cut off all the food supply.
17. He sent a man ahead of them – Joseph was sold as a servant.