1 N ow there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 a nd he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah. The name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 A nd this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

This man would go from his city each year to worship and to give gifts on the altar in Shiloh to the Lord of All. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s religious leaders there.

4 A nd when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

On the day when Elkanah killed animals on the altar in worship, he would give part of the gift to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

5 b ut unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.

But he would give twice as much to Hannah, for he loved Hannah. But the Lord had made it so she could not have children.

6 A nd her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.

Peninnah would try to make her very angry, because the Lord would not let her have children.

7 A nd as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

So it happened, year after year, each time Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would make her angry. Hannah cried and would not eat.

8 T hen said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

Then her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why are you not eating, and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” Hannah and Eli

9 S o Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.

Then Hannah stood up after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Eli the religious leader was sitting on the seat by the door of the house of the Lord.

10 A nd she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

Hannah was very troubled. She prayed to the Lord and cried with sorrow.

11 A nd she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

Then she made a promise and said, “O Lord of All, be sure to look on the trouble of Your woman servant, and remember me. Do not forget Your woman servant, but give me a son. If You will, then I will give him to the Lord all his life. And no hair will ever be cut from his head.”

12 A nd it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.

While she kept praying to the Lord, Eli was watching her mouth.

13 N ow Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

Hannah was speaking in her heart. Her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she had drunk too much.

14 A nd Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put wine away from you.”

15 A nd Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.

16 C ount not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Do not think of your woman servant as a woman of no worth. For I have been speaking out of much trouble and pain in my spirit.”

17 T hen Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

Then Eli answered, “Go in peace. May the God of Israel do what you have asked of Him.”

18 A nd she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

And Hannah said, “Let your woman servant find favor in your eyes.” So she went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Samuel Is Born

19 A nd they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.

The family got up early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord. Then they returned to their house in Ramah. Elkanah lay with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.

20 W herefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.

The Lord made it possible for her to have a child, and when the time came she gave birth to a son. She gave him the name Samuel, saying, “I have asked the Lord for him.”

21 A nd the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

Then Elkanah went up with all those of his house to give the Lord the gift on the altar in worship as he did each year, and to pay what he had promised.

22 B ut Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.

But Hannah did not go. For she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child no longer needs to be nursed. Then I will bring him before the Lord, to stay there forever.”

23 A nd Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what you think is best. Stay here until he no longer needs to be nursed. Only may the Lord do as He has said.” So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until he no longer needed to be nursed.

24 A nd when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.

When she had finished nursing him, she took him with her to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child was young.

25 A nd they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

She brought a three year old bull, one basket of flour and a jar of wine also. Then they killed the bull, and brought the boy to Eli.

26 A nd she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.

Hannah said, “O, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord.

27 F or this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

I prayed for this boy, and the Lord has given me what I asked of Him.

28 t herefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.

So I have given him to the Lord. He is given to the Lord as long as he lives.” And they worshiped the Lord there.