Read the Bible

God's Work with Israel

¹ O give thanks to the Lord. Call on His name. Make His works known among the people. ² Sing to Him. Sing praises to Him. Tell of all His great works. ³ Honor His holy name. Let the heart of those who look to the Lord be glad. ⁴ Look for the Lord and His strength. Look for His face all the time. ⁵ Remember the great and powerful works that He has done. Keep in mind what He has decided and told us, ⁶ O children of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! ⁷ He is the Lord our God. What He has decided is in all the earth.

⁸ He has remembered His agreement forever, the promise He made to last through a thousand families-to-come, ⁹ the agreement that He made with Abraham, and His promise to Isaac. ¹⁰ He gave it to Jacob as a Law, to Israel as an agreement that will last forever. ¹¹ He said, "I will give the land of Canaan to you as your share," ¹² when they were only a few men in number and were strangers in it. ¹³ They went from nation to nation, from the people under one king to the people under another. ¹⁴ He did not allow anyone to hold power over them. And He spoke sharp words to kings because of them. ¹⁵ He said, "Do not touch My chosen ones. And do not hurt those who speak for Me."

¹⁶ Then He called for a time of no food on the land. He cut off all their bread. ¹⁷ He sent a man, Joseph, before them who was sold as a servant. ¹⁸ They hurt his feet with chains. He was put in irons, ¹⁹ until what he had said would happen came to pass. The Word of the Lord tested him. ²⁰ The king sent and had him taken out of prison. The ruler of many people set him free. ²¹ He made him the lord of his house and ruler over all he had. ²² He could punish the rulers as he pleased. And he taught wisdom to the wise. ²³ Then Israel also came into Egypt. So Jacob stayed in the land of Ham. ²⁴ And He made the number of His people grow until they were stronger than those who held power over them.

²⁵ He turned their hearts to hate His people and to make plans against His servants. ²⁶ He sent Moses, His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. ²⁷ They did His great works for them to see, powerful works in the land of Ham. ²⁸ He sent darkness and made the land dark. They did not fight against what He told them to do. ²⁹ He changed their water into blood, so their fish died. ³⁰ Their land became covered with frogs, even in the rooms of their kings. ³¹ He spoke and there came many flies all over their land. ³² He gave them hail instead of rain, and lightning like fire in their land. ³³ He destroyed their vines and fig trees and the trees of their country. ³⁴ He spoke and the locusts came. There were too many to number. ³⁵ They ate up all the plants in their country. They ate all the fruit of their land. ³⁶ He killed all the first-born in their land, the first fruits of all their strength.

³⁷ Then He brought Israel out with silver and gold. And there was not one weak person among their families. ³⁸ Egypt was glad when they left. For they had become afraid of Israel. ³⁹ He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light at night. ⁴⁰ They asked, and He brought them quails for meat. And He filled them with the bread of heaven. ⁴¹ He opened the rock and water flowed out. It flowed in the desert like a river. ⁴² For He remembered His holy Word with Abraham His servant. ⁴³ And He brought His people out with joy, His chosen ones with singing. ⁴⁴ He gave them the lands of the nations. They were given what others had worked for, ⁴⁵ so that they might do what He told them and keep His Law. Praise the Lord!