7 The Lord makes some people poor,and others he makes rich.He makes some people humble,and others he makes great.
8 The Lord raises the poor up from the dust,and he lifts the needy from the ashes.He lets the poor sit with princesand receive a throne of honor.“The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord,and the Lord set the world upon them.
9 He protects those who are loyal to him,but evil people will be silenced in darkness.Power is not the key to success.
10 The Lord destroys his enemies;he will thunder in heaven against them.The Lord will judge all the earth.He will give power to his kingand make his appointed king strong.”
11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy continued to serve the Lord under Eli the priest.
12 Now Eli’s sons were evil men; they did not care about the Lord.
13 This is what the priests would normally do to the people: Every time someone brought a sacrifice, the meat would be cooked in a pot. The priest’s servant would then come carrying a fork that had three prongs.