9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;

Other Translations of 1 Samuel 2:9

King James Version

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

English Standard Version

9 "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.

The Message

9 He protectively cares for his faithful friends, step by step, but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark. No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle!

New King James Version

9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail.

New Living Translation

9 "He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:9

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:1-10

(Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10)

Hannah's heart rejoiced, not in Samuel, but in the Lord. She looks beyond the gift, and praises the Giver. She rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord, and in expectation of His coming, who is the whole salvation of his people. The strong are soon weakened, and the weak are soon strengthened, when God pleases. Are we poor? God made us poor, which is a good reason why we should be content, and make up our minds to our condition. Are we rich? God made us rich, which is a good reason why we should be thankful, and serve him cheerfully, and do good with the abundance he gives us. He respects not man's wisdom or fancied excellences, but chooses those whom the world accounts foolish, teaching them to feel their guilt, and to value his free and precious salvation. This prophecy looks to the kingdom of Christ, that kingdom of grace, of which Hannah speaks, after having spoken largely of the kingdom of providence. And here is the first time that we meet with the name MESSIAH, or his Anointed. The subjects of Christ's kingdom will be safe, and the enemies of it will be ruined; for the Anointed, the Lord Christ, is able to save, and to destroy.