1 N ow 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.

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 other Peninnah. 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 T his 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.

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 gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions;

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

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

7 A s 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.

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 E lkanah 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?”

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 S o 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.

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

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

11 S he 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.”

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 A s she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw her mouth.

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

13 N ow Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore 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 E li said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

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

15 H annah 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.

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 on’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my 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, “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 servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.

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 hey 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.

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

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

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 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.

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 W hen 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.

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 hey killed the bull, and brought the child 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 by you here, praying to Yahweh.

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

27 I prayed for this child; and Yahweh 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 T herefore I have also given him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is given to Yahweh.” He worshiped Yahweh 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.