1 Samuel 1

1Now 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:

1There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramathaim-zophim, in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, from the tribe of Ephraim.

2and 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.

2Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.

3And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto Jehovah, were there.

3Every year this man traveled from his hometown to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the LORD of Armies. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served there as priests of the LORD.

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

4Whenever Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

5but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.

5But he gave a special, double portion to Hannah because he loved her, even though the LORD had kept her from having children.

6And her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb.

6Because the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, her rival, Peninnah, would cruelly taunt her to make her feel miserable.

7And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Jehovah, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

7This happened year after year. Whenever Hannah went to the house of the LORD, Peninnah would upset her so much that Hannah would cry and refuse to eat.

8And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

8Her husband Elkanah would ask her, 'Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren't you eating? Why are you so sad? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?'

9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah.

9One time in Shiloh, after they had finished eating and drinking, Hannah got up. Eli the priest was sitting in his usual seat by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple.

10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore.

10In deep distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.

11And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

11She made a solemn promise, saying, 'O LORD of Armies, if you will only look at my misery and remember me—if you don't forget your servant but give me a son—then I will give him to the LORD for his entire life, and his hair will never be cut.'

12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth.

12As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.

13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

13Hannah was praying silently in her heart; her lips were moving, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli assumed she was drunk.

14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

14Eli said to her, 'How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine!'

15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah.

15'No, my lord,' Hannah replied. 'I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I haven't been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD.

16Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.

16Please don't think I am a wicked woman. I have been praying here because of my great worry and suffering.'

17Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

17Eli answered, 'Go in peace, and may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.'

18And she said, Let thy handmaid find favor in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat; and her countenance was no more sad.

18She said, 'May I continue to find favor in your eyes.' Then she went her way, ate some food, and was no longer sad.

19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her;

19Early the next morning they got up and worshiped the LORD. Then they went back to their home in Ramah. Elkanah slept with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her prayer.

20and it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Jehovah.

20So in the course of time, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I asked the LORD for him.'

21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto Jehovah the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

21When Elkanah and his whole family went up to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,

22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Jehovah, and there abide for ever.

22Hannah did not go. She told her husband, 'After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will stay there for the rest of his life.'

23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only Jehovah establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.

23'Do what you think is best,' her husband Elkanah told her. 'Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD help you keep your word.' So the woman stayed and nursed her son until he was weaned.

24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Jehovah in Shiloh: and the child was young.

24After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, about thirty-six pounds of flour, and a container of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh while the child was still very young.

25And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

25After they had sacrificed the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.

26And she said, Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto Jehovah.

26Hannah said to him, 'Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.

27For this child I prayed; and Jehovah hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

27I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

28therefore also I have granted him to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he is granted to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.

28So now I am giving him to the LORD. For his entire life, he will belong to the LORD.' And they worshiped the LORD there.