Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God,

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

One day while Moses was taking care of the sheep and goats of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, he led the flock across the desert and came to Sinai, the holy mountain.

"This is strange," he thought. "Why isn't the bush burning up? I will go closer and see."

Now I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians have enslaved, and I have remembered my covenant.

Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me."

Praise the LORD, my soul! All my being, praise his holy name!

Praise the LORD, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is.

I love the LORD, because he hears me; he listens to my prayers.

The danger of death was all around me; the horrors of the grave closed in on me; I was filled with fear and anxiety.

The LORD, who made the earth, who formed it and set it in place, spoke to me. He whose name is the LORD said,

To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of:

to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.

They believed, and when they heard that the LORD had come to them and had seen how they were being treated cruelly, they bowed down and worshiped.

"Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the tribe of Benjamin; anoint him as ruler of my people Israel, and he will rescue them from the Philistines. I have seen the suffering of my people and have heard their cries for help."

Perhaps the LORD will notice my misery and give me some blessings to take the place of his curse."

The LORD looked down from his holy place on high, he looked down from heaven to earth.

He heard the groans of prisoners and set free those who were condemned to die.

Turn to me and have mercy on me as you do on all those who love you.