1 Samuel 2:1-10

Contemporary English Version

² No other god^[a] is like you.
And with you we are safer
    than on a high mountain.^[b]
3 I can tell those proud people,
    “Stop your boasting!
Nothing is hidden from the Lord,
    and he judges what we do.”

⁴ Our Lord, you break
    the bows of warriors,
but you give strength
    to everyone who stumbles.
⁵ People who once
    had plenty to eat
must now hire themselves out
    for only a piece of bread.
But you give the hungry more
    than enough to eat.
A woman did not have a child,
    and you gave her seven,
but a woman who had many
    was left with none.
^6 (B) You take away life,
    and you give life.
You send people down
to the world of the dead
    and bring them back again.

⁷ Our Lord, you are the one
    who makes us rich or poor.
You put some in high positions
    and bring disgrace on others.
⁸ You lift the poor and homeless
    out of the garbage dump
and give them places of honor
    in royal palaces.

You set the world on foundations,
    and they belong to you.
⁹ You protect your loyal people,
but everyone who is evil
    will die in darkness.

We cannot win a victory
    by our own strength.
¹⁰ Our Lord, those who attack you
    will be broken in pieces
when you fight back
    with thunder from heaven.
You will judge the whole earth
and give power and strength
    to your chosen king.