The manual lifting device has a first and second arms, pivotally connected to each other, each having a downward projection from a distal end thereof, extending generally vertically when in use. A handle is mounted on one of the arms, extending generally over the center of gravity of the device. Positioning the device so that the downward projections loosely contact edges of an object to be lifted, and then lifting the handle, causes the arms to pivot downwardly relative to each other, thereby causing the downward projections to rotate inwardly to grasp the object. Alternatively, there is a central handle, and the two arms pivot downwardly from opposite ends of the handle.