Chapter 1

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, ^{6822 7436} of mount Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

And this man went up¹ out of his city yearly ³¹¹⁷ to worship⁹⁹ and to sacrifice² unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered,⁴ he gave¹ to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

But unto Hannah he gave⁴ a worthy portion; for he loved¹ Hannah: but the LORD had shut up¹ her womb.

And her adversary also provoked¹⁴ her sore, for to make her fret,⁵³ because the LORD had shut¹ up her womb.

And [as] he did⁴ so year by year, when she went up² to the house of the LORD, so she provoked⁵⁵ her; therefore she wept,⁴ and did not eat.⁴

Then said⁴ Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest⁴ thou? and why eatest⁴ thou not? and why is thy heart grieved?⁴ [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?

So Hannah rose up⁴ after they had eaten² in Shiloh, and after they had drunk.² Now Eli the priest sat⁶ upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed¹⁰¹ unto the LORD, and wept⁴ sore.²

And she vowed⁴ a vow, and said,⁴ O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed² look⁴ on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember¹ me, and not forget⁴ thine handmaid, but wilt give¹ unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give¹ him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come⁴ upon his head.

And it came to pass, as she continued⁵² praying⁹⁹ before the LORD, that Eli marked⁶ her mouth.

Now Hannah, she spake¹⁸ in her heart; only her lips moved,⁵ but her voice was not heard:¹¹ therefore Eli thought⁴ she had been drunken.

And Eli said⁴ unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken?¹⁰¹ put away⁵⁴ thy wine from thee.

And Hannah answered⁴ and said,⁴ No, my lord, I [am] a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk¹ neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out⁴ my soul before the LORD.

Count⁴ not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken¹⁴ hitherto.

Then Eli answered⁴ and said,⁴ Go³ in peace: and the God of Israel grant⁴ [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked¹ of him.

And she said,⁴ Let thine handmaid find⁴ grace in thy sight. So the woman went⁴ her way, and did eat,⁴ and her countenance was no more [sad].

And they rose up in the morning early,⁵⁵ and worshipped¹⁰¹ before the LORD, and returned,⁴ and came⁴ to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew⁴ Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered⁴ her.

Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived,⁴ that she bare⁴ a son, and called⁴ his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked¹ him of the LORD.

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up⁴ to offer² unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

But Hannah went not up;¹ for she said¹ unto her husband, [I will not go up] until the child be weaned,¹¹ and [then] I will bring⁵² him, that he may appear⁸ before the LORD, and there abide¹ for ever.

And Elkanah her husband said⁴ unto her, Do³ what seemeth thee good; tarry³ until thou have weaned² him; only the LORD establish⁵⁵ his word. So the woman abode,⁴ and gave her son suck⁵⁵ until she weaned² him.

And when she had weaned¹ him, she took him up⁵⁵ with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought⁵⁵ him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child [was] young.

And they slew⁴ a bullock, and brought⁵⁵ the child to Eli.

And she said,⁴ Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I [am] the woman that stood¹² by thee here, praying⁹⁹ unto the LORD.

For this child I prayed;⁹⁸ and the LORD hath given⁴ me my petition which I asked¹ of him:

Therefore also I have lent⁵² him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent⁷ to the LORD. And he worshipped¹⁰¹ the LORD there.