1 T here was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

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

2 H e had two wives, one named Hannah and the other named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

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

3 T his man went from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were the Lord’s priests.

Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there.

4 W hen the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give to Peninnah his wife and all her sons and daughters portions.

When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters;

5 B ut to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had given her no children.

but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.

6 a nd her rival provoked her greatly to vex her, because the Lord had left her childless.

Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.

7 S o it was year after year; whenever Hannah went up to the Lord’s house, Peninnah provoked her, so she wept and did not eat.

It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.

8 T hen Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you cry? And why do you not eat? And why are you grieving? Am I not more to you than ten sons?

Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9 S o Hannah rose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside a post of the temple (tent) of the Lord.

Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.

10 A nd was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly.

She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

11 S he vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head.

She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”

12 A nd as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli noticed her mouth.

Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth.

13 H annah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

14 E li said to her, How long will you be intoxicated? Put wine away from you.

Then Eli said to her, “ How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.”

15 B ut Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.

But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord.

16 R egard not your handmaid as a wicked woman; for out of my great complaint and bitter provocation I have been speaking.

Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.”

17 T hen Eli said, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.

Then Eli answered and said, “ Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.”

18 H annah said, Let your handmaid find grace in your sight. So went her way and ate, her countenance no longer sad.

She said, “ Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Samuel Is Born to Hannah

19 T he family rose early the next morning, worshiped before the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

20 H annah became pregnant and in due time bore a son and named him Samuel, Because, she said, I have asked him of the Lord.

It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “ Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

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

Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.

22 B ut Hannah did not go, for she said to her husband, I will not go until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there as long as he lives.

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “ I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and stay there forever.”

23 E lkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the Lord establish His word. So Hannah remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only may the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 W hen she had weaned him, she took him with her, with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin bottle of wine, and brought Samuel to the Lord’s house in Shiloh. The child was growing.

Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young.

25 T hen they slew the bull, and brought the child to Eli.

Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli.

26 H annah said, Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord.

She said, “Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, 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 has granted my petition made to Him.

For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him.

28 T herefore I have given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.

So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.