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 of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains 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.

And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. 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.

This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

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

And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and 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, although the Lord had closed her womb.

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

And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, 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.

So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. Hannah’s Vow

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? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? 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.

So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord.

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

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.

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.

Then 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 male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

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

And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched 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.

Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

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

So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away 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 answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but 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 a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”

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 the God of Israel grant your petition which 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.

And 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 and Dedicated

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 rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew 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.

So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”

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

Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and 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, “ Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain 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.

So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had 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 three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.

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

Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child 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.

And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord.

27 F or this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him.

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted 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.

Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there.