< 撒母耳記上 1 >
1 以法蓮山地的拉瑪‧瑣非有一個以法蓮人,名叫以利加拿,是蘇弗的玄孫,託戶的曾孫,以利戶的孫子,耶羅罕的兒子。
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 他有兩個妻:一名哈拿,一名毗尼拿。毗尼拿有兒女,哈拿沒有兒女。
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 這人每年從本城上到示羅,敬拜祭祀萬軍之耶和華;在那裏有以利的兩個兒子何弗尼、非尼哈當耶和華的祭司。
This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to the LORD, were there.
4 以利加拿每逢獻祭的日子,將祭肉分給他的妻毗尼拿和毗尼拿所生的兒女;
When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters;
5 給哈拿的卻是雙分,因為他愛哈拿。無奈耶和華不使哈拿生育。
but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6 毗尼拿見耶和華不使哈拿生育,就作她的對頭,大大激動她,要使她生氣。
Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7 每年上到耶和華殿的時候,以利加拿都以雙分給哈拿;毗尼拿仍是激動她,以致她哭泣不吃飯。
So year by year, when she went up to the LORD’s house, her rival provoked her. Therefore she wept, and didn’t eat.
8 她丈夫以利加拿對她說:「哈拿啊,你為何哭泣,不吃飯,心裏愁悶呢?有我不比十個兒子還好嗎?」
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 他們在示羅吃喝完了,哈拿就站起來。祭司以利在耶和華殿的門框旁邊,坐在自己的位上。
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 the LORD’s temple.
She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.
11 許願說:「萬軍之耶和華啊,你若垂顧婢女的苦情,眷念不忘婢女,賜我一個兒子,我必使他終身歸與耶和華,不用剃頭刀剃他的頭。」
She vowed a vow, and said, “LORD 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 the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”
12 哈拿在耶和華面前不住地祈禱,以利定睛看她的嘴。(
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli saw her mouth.
13 原來哈拿心中默禱,只動嘴唇,不出聲音,因此以利以為她喝醉了。)
Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
14 以利對她說:「你要醉到幾時呢?你不應該喝酒。」
Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
15 哈拿回答說:「主啊,不是這樣。我是心裏愁苦的婦人,清酒濃酒都沒有喝,但在耶和華面前傾心吐意。
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 the LORD.
16 不要將婢女看作不正經的女子。我因被人激動,愁苦太多,所以祈求到如今。」
Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”
17 以利說:「你可以平平安安地回去。願以色列的上帝允准你向他所求的!」
Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”
18 哈拿說:「願婢女在你眼前蒙恩。」於是婦人走去吃飯,面上再不帶愁容了。
She said, “Let your servant find favour in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.
19 次日清早,他們起來,在耶和華面前敬拜,就回拉瑪。到了家裏,以利加拿和妻哈拿同房,耶和華顧念哈拿,
They rose up in the morning early and worshipped the LORD, then returned and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20 哈拿就懷孕。日期滿足,生了一個兒子,給他起名叫撒母耳,說:「這是我從耶和華那裏求來的。」
When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”
21 以利加拿和他全家都上示羅去,要向耶和華獻年祭,並還所許的願。
The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
22 哈拿卻沒有上去,對丈夫說:「等孩子斷了奶,我便帶他上去朝見耶和華,使他永遠住在那裏。」
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 the LORD, and stay there forever.”
23 她丈夫以利加拿說:「就隨你的意行吧!可以等兒子斷了奶。但願耶和華應驗他的話。」於是婦人在家裏乳養兒子,直到斷了奶;
Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 既斷了奶,就把孩子帶上示羅,到了耶和華的殿;又帶了三隻公牛,一伊法細麵,一皮袋酒。(那時,孩子還小。)
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a container of wine, and brought him to the LORD’s house in Shiloh. The child was young.
They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26 婦人說:「主啊,我敢在你面前起誓,從前在你這裏站着祈求耶和華的那婦人,就是我。
She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.
27 我祈求為要得這孩子;耶和華已將我所求的賜給我了。
I prayed for this child, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him.
28 所以,我將這孩子歸與耶和華,使他終身歸與耶和華。」 於是在那裏敬拜耶和華。
Therefore I have also given him to the LORD. As long as he lives he is given to the LORD.” He worshipped the LORD there.