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.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of 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: 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, and the name of other 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 went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were 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;

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

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

but to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.

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

Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.

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.

As he did so year by year, when she went up to Yahweh’s house. Her rival provoked her; therefore she wept, and didn’t 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?”

Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

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.

So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple.

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

She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, weeping bitterly.

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.”

She vowed a vow, and said, “Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”

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

As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw 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.

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

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? Get rid of your wine!”

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.

Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.

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

Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”

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; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that 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

She said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.

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.

They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh 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.”

When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.”

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

The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

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 didn’t go up; for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and 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 seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may Yahweh establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.

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 weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to Yahweh’s house in Shiloh. The child was young.

25 T hen they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli.

They killed the bull, and brought the child 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.

She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.

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

I prayed for this child; and Yahweh has given me my petition which 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.

Therefore I have also given him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is given to Yahweh.” He worshiped Yahweh there.