1 Samuel 1

1 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.

There was a certain man of Ramathaim of the Zuphites, of the hill country of Ephraim; his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 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.

He had two wives; the name of the first was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 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.

This man went from his city year after year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.

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

When the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice each year, he always gave portions of the meat to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters.

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

But to Hannah he always gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although Yahweh had closed her womb.

6 Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

Her rival provoked her severely in order to irritate her, because Yahweh had closed her womb.

7 So year by year, when she went up to the LORD’s house, her rival provoked her. Therefore she wept, and didn’t eat.

So year after year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh with her family, her rival always provoked her. Therefore she used to weep and eat nothing.

8 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?”

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

9 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.

On one of these occasions, Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the doorway to the temple of Yahweh.

10 She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.

She was deeply distressed; she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly.

11 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.”

She made a vow and said, “Yahweh of hosts, if you will look on the affliction of your servant and call me to mind, and do not forget your servant, but give your servant a son, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor will ever touch his head.”

12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli saw her mouth.

As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli watched her mouth.

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

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

14 Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine.”

15 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.

Hannah answered, “No, my master, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before Yahweh.

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

Do not consider your servant to be a shameless woman; I have been speaking out of the abundance of my great concern and provocation.”

17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”

Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked him for.”

18 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.

She said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate; her face was no longer sad.

19 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.

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before Yahweh, and then they returned again to their house in Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and Yahweh called her to mind.

20 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.”

When the time came, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from Yahweh.”

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

Once again, Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.

22 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.”

But Hannah did not go; she had said to her husband, “I will not go until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, so that he may appear before Yahweh and live there forever.”

23 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.

Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only, may Yahweh confirm his word.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 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.

When she had weaned him, she took him with her, along with a three-year-old bull, one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh. Now the child was still young.

25 They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.

They killed the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.

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

She said, “Oh, my master! As you live, my master, I am the woman who stood here next to you praying to Yahweh.

27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him.

For this child I prayed and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.

28 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.

I have given him to Yahweh, as long as he lives he is lent to Yahweh.” Then he worshiped Yahweh there.