1 N ow 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.

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 H e 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.

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 N ow 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.

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

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 to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed 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 H er rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.

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

7 I t 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.

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 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?”

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 T hen 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.

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 S he, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

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

11 S he 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.”

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

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

13 A s 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.

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

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

15 B ut 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.

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

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 may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.”

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

18 S he 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

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 T hen 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.

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 I t 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.”

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 T hen the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay 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 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.”

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 E lkanah 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.

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 N ow 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.

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 T hen they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy 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 S he said, “Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to 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 boy I prayed, and the Lord has 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 S o 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.

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.