5
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
6
The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
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The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts.
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He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.
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"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail.
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The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed."
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Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, while the boy remained to minister to the Lord, in the presence of the priest Eli.
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Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord
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or for the duties of the priests to the people. When anyone offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,
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and he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
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Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw."