Once You spoke in a vision to Your devoted ones and said, I have endowed one who is mighty [a hero, giving him the power to help–to be a champion for Israel]; I have exalted one chosen from among the people.
To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?]
Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God.