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.
18. The shackles hurt his feet;his neck was placed in an iron collar,
19. until the time when his prediction came true.The Lord’s word proved him right.
20. The king authorized his release;the ruler of nations set him free.
21. He put him in charge of his palace,and made him manager of all his property,
22. giving him authority to imprison his officialsand to teach his advisers.
23. Israel moved to Egypt;Jacob lived for a time in the land of Ham.
24. The Lord made his people very fruitful,and made them more numerous than their enemies.