6. you children of his servant Abraham,you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7. He is the lord our God.His justice is seen throughout the land.
8. He always stands by his covenant—the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
9. This is the covenant he made with Abrahamand the oath he swore to Isaac.
10. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
11. “I will give you the land of Canaanas your special possession.”
12. He said this when they were few in number,a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
13. They wandered from nation to nation,from one kingdom to another.
14. Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.He warned kings on their behalf:
15. “Do not touch my chosen people,and do not hurt my prophets.”
16. He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,cutting off its food supply.
17. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18. They bruised his feet with fettersand placed his neck in an iron collar.
19. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,the lord tested Joseph’s character.
20. Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free;the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21. Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household;he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
22. He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleasedand teach the king’s advisers.
23. Then Israel arrived in Egypt;Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.