1:51 He has demonstrated power 1 with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance 2 of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the mighty 3 from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; 4
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, 5 and has sent the rich away empty. 6
1 tn Or “shown strength,” “performed powerful deeds.” The verbs here switch to aorist tense through 1:55. This is how God will act in general for his people as they look to his ultimate deliverance.
2 tn Grk “in the imaginations of their hearts.” The psalm rebukes the arrogance of the proud, who think that power is their sovereign right. Here διανοίᾳ (dianoia) can be understood as a dative of sphere or reference/respect.
3 tn Or “rulers.”
4 tn Or “those of humble position”
sn The contrast between the mighty and those of lowly position is fundamental for Luke. God cares for those that the powerful ignore (Luke 4:18-19).
5 sn Good things refers not merely to material blessings, but blessings that come from knowing God.
6 sn Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).