4. Search for the Lord and his strength.Always seek his presence.
5. Remember the miracles he performed,the amazing things he did, and the judgments he pronounced,
6. you descendants of his servant Abraham,you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7. He is the Lord our God.His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.
8. He always remembers his promise,the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,
9. the promise that he made to Abraham,and his sworn oath to Isaac.
10. He confirmed it as a law for Jacob,as an everlasting promise to Israel,
11. by saying, “I will give you the land of Canaan.It is your share of the inheritance.”
12. While the people of Israel were few in number,a small group of foreigners living in that land,
13. they wandered from nation to nation,from one kingdom to another.
14. He didn’t permit anyone to oppress them.He warned kings about them:
15. “Do not touch my anointed onesor harm my prophets.”
16. He brought famine to the land.He took away their food supply.
17. He sent a man ahead of them.He sent Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18. They hurt his feet with shackles,and cut into his neck with an iron collar.