So Godheardtheir groaning;and GodrememberedHis covenantwith Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob.
[God] saidto Abram,"Knowfor certainthat your descendantswill be strangersin a landthat is not theirs,where they will be enslavedand oppressedfourhundredyears.
The angelof the LORDsaidto her further, "Behold,you are with child,And you will beara son;And you shall callhis nameIshmael,Becausethe LORDhas givenheedto your affliction.
"I will establishMy covenantbetweenMe and you and your descendantsafteryou throughout their generationsfor an everlastingcovenant,to be Godto you and to your descendantsafteryou.
since Abrahamwill surelybecomea greatand mightynation,and in him allthe nationsof the earthwill be blessed?
and said,"By Myself I have sworn,declaresthe LORD,becauseyou have donethisthingand have not withheldyour son,your onlyson,
The LORDappearedto him and said,"Do not godownto Egypt;stayin the landof whichI shall tellyou.
The LORDappearedto him the samenightand said,"I am the Godof your fatherAbraham;Do not fear,for I am with you. I will blessyou, and multiplyyour descendants,For the sakeof My servantAbraham."
"Sojournin thislandand I will be with you and blessyou, for to you and to your descendantsI will givealltheselands,and I will establishthe oathwhichI sworeto your fatherAbraham.
He said,"Your nameshall nolongerbe Jacob,but Israel;for you have strivenwith Godand with menand have prevailed."
Godalso saidto him, "I am GodAlmighty;Be fruitfuland multiply;A nationand a companyof nationsshall comefrom you, And kingsshall comeforthfrom you.
"The landwhichI gaveto Abrahamand Isaac,I will giveit to you, And I will givethe landto your descendantsafter you."
But GodrememberedNoahand allthe beastsand allthe cattlethat were with him in the ark;and Godcaused a windto passoverthe earth,and the watersubsided.
But the LORDwas graciousto them and hadcompassionon them and turnedto them becauseof His covenantwith Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob,and wouldnot destroythem or castthem from His presenceuntilnow.
Do not hideYour facefrom me in the dayof my distress;InclineYour earto me; In the daywhen I callanswerme quickly.
To hearthe groaningof the prisoner,To setfreethosewhowere doomedto death,
For He rememberedHis holyword[With] AbrahamHis servant;
And He rememberedHis covenantfor their sake, And relentedaccording to the greatnessof His lovingkindness.
On the dayI called,You answeredme; You mademe boldwith strengthin my soul.
For He has not despisednorabhorredthe afflictionof the afflicted;Norhas He hiddenHis facefrom him; But when he criedto Him for help,He heard.
To You they criedout and were delivered;In You they trustedand were not disappointed.
Let the groaningof the prisonercomebeforeYou; According to the greatnessof Your powerpreservethosewhoare doomedto die.
"FurthermoreI have heardthe groaningof the sonsof Israel,becausethe Egyptiansare holdingthem in bondage,and I have rememberedMy covenant.
But when we criedout to the LORD,He heardour voiceand sentan angeland broughtus out from Egypt;now behold,we are at Kadesh,a townon the edgeof your territory.
I HAVE CERTAINLY SEENTHE OPPRESSIONOF MY PEOPLEIN EGYPTAND HAVE HEARDTHEIR GROANS,AND I HAVE COME DOWNTO RESCUETHEM; COMENOW,AND I WILL SENDYOU TO EGYPT.'
Whenthe LORDraisedup judgesfor them, the LORDwas with the judgeand deliveredthem from the handof their enemiesallthe daysof the judge;for the LORDwas movedto pityby their groaningbecauseof those who oppressedand afflictedthem.
"About this timetomorrowI will sendyou a manfrom the landof Benjamin,and you shall anointhim to be princeoverMy peopleIsrael;and he will deliverMy peoplefrom the handof the Philistines.For I have regardedMy people,becausetheir cryhas cometo Me."
