1 Samuel 2:5

3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength.

The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.

6 The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.
KJV
They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
WEB
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry are satisfied. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes.
ASV
They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceased [to hunger]: Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth.
DARBY
They that were full have hired themselves out for bread; and the hungry are [so] no more: Even the barren beareth seven, and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
BLB
The satisfied have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased. Even The barren woman has borne seven, and she who has many sons has languished.
ÅB
De mette lar seg leie for brød, og de hungrige hører opp å hungre; endog den ufruktbare føder syv barn, og den som er rik på sønner, visner bort.
OTB
De som var mette leier seg ut for brød,
Men de som var sultne er nå tilfredse.
Selv den ufruktbare har født syv,
Men hun som hadde mange sønner vansmekter.
B1930
De mette lar sig leie for brød, og de hungrige hører op å hungre; endog den ufruktbare føder syv barn, og den som er rik på sønner, visner bort.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 113:9

    He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 15:9

    The mother of seven will grow faint; she will breathe her last breath. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. And the rest I will put to the sword in the presence of their enemies,” declares the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Luke 1:53

    He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 34:10

    Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 54:1

    “Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Luke 16:25

    But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 1:6

    Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 1:20

    So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

    Read in context