Psalms 105:10-23

10He repeated it to Jacob as a law. It was a covenant with Israel's people that would continue for ever.

11He promised Jacob, ‘I will give to you the land of Canaan. It will belong to you, and to your descendants.’

12At one time, God's people were only a few. They lived in Canaan as strangers.

13They travelled among different nations and different kingdoms.

14But the Lord did not let anyone hurt them. He punished kings to keep his people safe.

15He said, ‘Do not even touch the people that I have chosen to be mine. Do not hurt my prophets.’

16The Lord sent a famine to the land of Canaan, so that his people had no food left to eat.

17But he sent Joseph to Egypt before they went there to get food. Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave.

18In Egypt the chains on his feet hurt him. He had a heavy piece of iron round his neck.

19He remained a slave until what he said would happen really happened. Then the Lord showed that Joseph was right.

20The powerful king of Egypt sent someone to let Joseph go free out of prison.

21The king made Joseph master of his palace. Joseph took care of everything that belonged to the king.

22The king gave him authority over his officers. He could teach the king's leaders, so that they would know what to do.

23Then Jacob's family came into Egypt. They lived as strangers in the land of Ham's descendants.