1Now there was a certainmanof Ramathaimzophim, of mountEphraim, and his name was Elkanah, the sonof Jeroham, the sonof Elihu, the sonof Tohu, the sonof Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2And he had twowives; the nameof the one was Hannah, and the nameof the otherPeninnah: and Peninnahhad children, but Hannahhad no children.
3And thismanwent upout of his cityyearlyto worshipand to sacrificeunto the LORDof hostsin Shiloh. And the twosonsof Eli, Hophniand Phinehas, the priestsof the LORD, were there.
4And when the timewas that Elkanahoffered, he gaveto Peninnahhis wife, and to all her sonsand her daughters, portions:
5But unto Hannahhe gaveaworthyportion; for he lovedHannah: but the LORDhad shut upher womb.
6And her adversaryalso provokedher sore, for to make her fret, because the LORDhad shutupher womb.
7And as he didso yearby year, whenshe went upto the houseof the LORD, so she provokedher; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8Then saidElkanahher husbandto her, Hannah, why weepestthou? and why eatestthou not? and why is thy heartgrieved? am not I betterto thee than tensons?
9So Hannahrose upafterthey had eatenin Shiloh, and afterthey had drunk. Now Elithe priestsatupon a seatby a postof the templeof the LORD.
10And she was in bitternessof soul, and prayedunto the LORD, and weptsore.
11And she voweda vow, and said, O LORDof hosts, if thou wilt indeedlookon the afflictionof thine handmaid, and rememberme, and not forgetthine handmaid, but wilt giveunto thine handmaida manchild, then I will givehim unto the LORDall the daysof his life, and there shall no razorcomeupon his head.
12And it came to pass, as she continuedprayingbeforethe LORD, that Elimarkedher mouth.
13Now Hannah, she spakein her heart; only her lipsmoved, but her voicewas not heard: therefore Elithoughtshe had been drunken.
14And Elisaidunto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put awaythy wine from thee.
15And Hannahansweredand said, No, my lord, I am a womanof a sorrowfulspirit: I have drunkneither winenor strong drink, but have poured outmy soulbeforethe LORD.
16Countnot thine handmaidfora daughterof Belial: for out of the abundanceof my complaintand griefhave I spoken hitherto.
17Then Eliansweredand said, Goin peace: and the Godof Israelgrant thee thy petitionthat thou hast asked of him.
18And she said, Let thine handmaidfindgracein thy sight. So the womanwenther way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad .
19And they rose upin the morningearly, and worshippedbeforethe LORD, and returned, and cameto their houseto Ramah: and ElkanahknewHannahhis wife; and the LORDremembered her.
20Wherefore it came to pass, when the timewas comeabout after Hannahhad conceived, that she barea son, and calledhis nameSamuel, saying , Because I have askedhim of the LORD.
21And the manElkanah, and all his house, went upto offerunto the LORDthe yearlysacrifice, and his vow.
22But Hannahwent not up; for she saidunto her husband, I will not go up until the childbe weaned, and then I will bringhim, that he may appearbeforethe LORD, and there abideforever.
23And Elkanahher husbandsaidunto her, Dowhat seemeththee good; tarryuntil thou have weanedhim; only the LORDestablishhis word. So the womanabode, and gave her sonsuckuntil she weaned him.
24And when she had weanedhim, she took him upwith her, with threebullocks, and oneephahof flour, and a bottleof wine, and broughthim unto the houseof the LORDin Shiloh: and the child was young.
25And they slewa bullock, and broughtthe childto Eli.
26And she said, Ohmy lord, as thy soulliveth, my lord, I am the womanthat stoodby thee here, prayingunto the LORD.
27For this childI prayed; and the LORDhath givenme my petitionwhich I asked of him:
28Therefore also I have lenthim to the LORD; as long as he livethhe shall be lentto the LORD. And he worshippedthe LORD there.
