1 T here 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.

There 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.

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

He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 T his 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.

This 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.

4 O n 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.

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

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

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

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

and her rival provoked her greatly to vex her, because the Lord had left her childless.

7 S o 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.

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

8 T hen 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

Then 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?

9 T hen 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.

So 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.

10 H annah was very troubled. She prayed to the Lord and cried with sorrow.

And was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly.

11 T hen 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.”

She 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.

12 W hile she kept praying to the Lord, Eli was watching her mouth.

And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli noticed her mouth.

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

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

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

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

15 B ut 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.

But 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.

16 D o 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.”

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

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

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

18 A nd 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

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

19 T he 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.

The 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.

20 T he 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.”

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

21 T hen 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.

And Elkanah and all his house went up 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 up until the child no longer needs to be nursed. Then I will bring him before the Lord, to stay there forever.”

But 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.

23 E lkanah 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.

Elkanah 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.

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

When 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.

25 S he 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.

Then they slew the bull, and brought the child to Eli.

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

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

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

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

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

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