1 Samuel 2:5

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

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.

6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

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 maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 15:9

    She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Luke 1:53

    He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 34:10

    The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 54:1

    Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Luke 16:25

    But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 1:6

    And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 1:20

    Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

    Read in context