1 Samuel 2:7-8

2:7 The Lord impoverishes and makes wealthy;

he humbles and he exalts.

2:8 He lifts the weak ¹  from the dust;

he raises ²  the poor from the ash heap

to seat them with princes

and to bestow on them an honored position. ³ 

The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord,

and he has placed the world on them.

Psalms 91:14

91:14 The Lord says, ⁴ 

“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;

I will protect him ⁵  because he is loyal to me. ⁶ 

Psalms 107:41

107:41 Yet he protected ⁷  the needy from oppression,

and cared for his families like a flock of sheep.

Ezekiel 17:24

17:24 All the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord.

I make the high tree low; I raise up the low tree.

I make the green tree wither, and I make the dry tree sprout.

I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it!’”

Luke 1:52-53

1:52 He has brought down the mighty ⁸  from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; ⁹ 

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, ¹⁰  and has sent the rich away empty. ¹¹ 

[2:8]  ¹ tn Or “lowly”; Heb “insignificant.”

[2:8]  ² tn The imperfect verbal form, which is parallel to the participle in the preceding line, is best understood here as indicating what typically happens.

[2:8]  ³ tn Heb “a seat of honor.”

[91:14]  ⁴ tn The words “the Lord says” are supplied in the translation to clarify that the words which follow are the Lord’s oracle of assurance.

[91:14]  ⁵ tn Or “make him secure” (Heb “set him on high”).

[91:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “because he knows my name” (see Ps 9:10).

[107:41]  ⁷ tn Heb “set on high.”

[1:52]  ⁸ tn Or “rulers.”

[1:52]  ⁹ tn Or “those of humble position”

[1:53]  ¹⁰ sn Good things refers not merely to material blessings, but blessings that come from knowing God.

[1:53]  ¹¹ sn Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).