Ayub 40:11-12

40:11 Scatter abroad ¹  the abundance ²  of your anger.

Look at every proud man ³  and bring him low;

40:12 Look at every proud man and abase him;

crush the wicked on the spot! ⁴ 

Mazmur 75:6-7

75:6 For victory does not come from the east or west,

or from the wilderness. ⁵ 

75:7 For God is the judge! ⁶ 

He brings one down and exalts another. ⁷ 

Yehezkiel 17:24

17:24 All the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord.

I make the high tree low; I raise up the low tree.

I make the green tree wither, and I make the dry tree sprout.

I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it!’”

Lukas 1:52

1:52 He has brought down the mighty ⁸  from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; ⁹ 

[40:11]  ¹ tn The verb was used for scattering lightning (Job 37:11). God is challenging Job to unleash his power and judge wickedness in the world.

[40:11]  ² tn Heb “the overflowings.”

[40:11]  ³ tn The word was just used in the positive sense of excellence or majesty; now the exalted nature of the person refers to self-exaltation, or pride.

[40:12]  ⁴ tn The expression translated “on the spot” is the prepositional phrase תַּחְתָּם (takhtam, “under them”). “Under them” means in their place. But it can also mean “where someone stands, on the spot” (see Exod 16:29; Jos 6:5; Judg 7:21, etc.).

[75:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “for not from the east or from the west, and not from the wilderness of the mountains.” If one follows this reading the sentence is elliptical. One must supply “does help come,” or some comparable statement. However, it is possible to take הָרִים (harim) as a Hiphil infinitive from רוּם (rum), the same verb used in vv. 4-5 of “lifting up” a horn. In this case one may translate the form as “victory.” In this case the point is that victory does not come from alliances with other nations.

[75:7]  ⁶ tn Or “judges.”

[75:7]  ⁷ tn The imperfects here emphasize the generalizing nature of the statement.

[1:52]  ⁸ tn Or “rulers.”

[1:52]  ⁹ tn Or “those of humble position”

[1:52]  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).