He saw the slavery of the Israelites and was concerned for them.

but the LORD was kind and merciful to them. He would not let them be destroyed, but helped them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has never forgotten his people.

I answered, "The God of Heaven will give us success. We are his servants, and we are going to start building. But you have no right to any property in Jerusalem, and you have no share in its traditions."

You said, "I have made a covenant with the man I chose; I have promised my servant David,

Even though you are so high above, you care for the lowly, and the proud cannot hide from you.

When I am surrounded by troubles, you keep me safe. You oppose my angry enemies and save me by your power.

"Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you wonderful and marvelous things that you know nothing about.

It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. They were not faithful to the covenant I made with them, and so I paid no attention to them.

I will give you many descendants, and some of them will be kings. You will have so many descendants that they will become nations.

"I will keep my promise to you and to your descendants in future generations as an everlasting covenant. I will be your God and the God of your descendants.

I have heard your request about Ishmael, so I will bless him and give him many children and many descendants. He will be the father of twelve princes, and I will make a great nation of his descendants.

I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, and I will give them all this territory. All the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants.

May Almighty God bless your marriage and give you many children, so that you will become the father of many nations!

They will be as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth. They will extend their territory in all directions, and through you and your descendants I will bless all the nations.

but their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and became so numerous and strong that Egypt was filled with them.

"The LORD will bless you with many children, with abundant crops, and with many cattle and sheep.

The LORD will give you many children, many cattle, and abundant crops in the land that he promised your ancestors to give you.

You gave them as many children as there are stars in the sky, and let them conquer and live in the land that you had promised their ancestors to give them.

He blessed his people, and they had many children; he kept their herds of cattle from decreasing.

but I will make a covenant with you. Go into the boat with your wife, your sons, and their wives.

"I will keep my promise to you and to your descendants in future generations as an everlasting covenant. I will be your God and the God of your descendants.

I also made my covenant with them, promising to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they had lived as foreigners.

"Listen now, my people, and come to me; come to me, and you will have life! I will make a lasting covenant with you and give you the blessings I promised to David.

I will renew my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD.

He said he would show mercy to our ancestors and remember his sacred covenant.