^16 (A) God kept crops from growing
until food was scarce
    everywhere in the land.
^17 (B) But he had already sent Joseph,
    sold as a slave into Egypt,
^18 (C) with chains of iron
    around his legs and neck.

¹⁹ Joseph remained a slave
until his own words
    had come true,
and the Lord had finished
    testing him.
^20 (D) Then the king of Egypt
    set Joseph free
^21 (E) and put him in charge
    of everything he owned.
²² Joseph was in command
    of the officials,
and he taught the leaders
    how to use wisdom.

^23 (F) Jacob and his family
came and settled in Egypt
    as foreigners.
^24 (G) They were the Lord's people,
so he let them grow stronger
    than their enemies.