1:53a
He has filled the hungry with good things: The clause He has filled the hungry with good things means “God has given hungry people so much good food to eat that they are satisfied.”
This clause has both a literal and a figurative meaning. Literally, the word hungry refers to people who do not have enough food to eat and so are physically hungry. Figuratively, it refers to people who have a great desire for God and spiritual blessings.
Some languages may have a clause or idiom for filled the hungry that has this literal meaning and also implies this figurative meaning. If this is true in your language, you may be able to use it here. However, be careful that it does not imply a wrong figurative meaning.
Some other ways to translate the clause are:
He has satisfied the hungry with good things (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
He fed hungry people with good food. (God’s Word)
good things: In this context, good things refers to food. But the good things also represent all the things that people desire and need (both physical and spiritual things).
1:53b
but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but is the same one that was used in 1:52b. As in 1:52b, it connects two ways in which God showed his power. God showed his power when he filled the hungry people with good things (1:53a) and when he sent the rich people away empty (1:53b). These two actions contrast with each other, so the conjunction but is natural in English. Connect these parts of the verse in a natural way in your language. In some languages a conjunction may not be needed.
has sent the rich away empty: This phrase indicates that God sent the rich people away without giving them anything. As in 1:53a, this clause has both a literal meaning and a figurative meaning. It implies that God does not satisfy the arrogant with spiritual blessings.
Some languages may have a clause or idiom for sent the rich away empty that has this literal meaning and also implies this figurative meaning. If this is true in your language, you may be able to use it here. However, be careful that it does not imply a wrong figurative meaning.
Some other ways to translate this are:
He sent rich people away with nothing. (God’s Word)
-or-
He did not give the ⌊arrogant⌋ rich people anything, but sent them away.
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