¶ Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim², of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah⁴, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph⁵, an Ephrathite⁶:

And he had two⁷ wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but⁸ Hannah had no children.

And this man went up out of his city yearly⁹ to worship¹⁰ and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh¹¹. And the¹² two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered¹³, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion¹⁴; for he loved¹⁵ Hannah: but the LORD had shut up¹⁶ her womb.

And her adversary¹⁷ also provoked her¹⁸ sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

And as he did so year¹⁹ by year, when she²⁰ went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest²¹ thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not²² I better to thee than ten sons?

¶²³So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

¶ And she was in bitterness of soul²⁴, and prayed²⁵ unto the LORD, and wept sore²⁶.

And she vowed²⁷ a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look²⁸ on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember²⁹ me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child³⁰, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there³¹ shall no razor come upon his head.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying³² before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

Now Hannah, she spake³³ in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had³⁴ been drunken.

And Eli said unto her, How long³⁵ wilt thou be drunken? put away³⁶ thy wine from thee.

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord³⁷, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit³⁸: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter³⁹ of Belial: for out of⁴⁰ the abundance of my complaint⁴¹ and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Then Eli answered and said, Go⁴² in peace: and the God⁴³ of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

And she said, Let thine⁴⁴ handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her⁴⁵ way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

¶ And they rose⁴⁶ up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew⁴⁷ Hannah his wife; and the LORD⁴⁸ remembered her.

¶ Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about⁴⁹ after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

⁵⁰And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then⁵¹ I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there⁵² abide for ever⁵³.

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what⁵⁴ seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD⁵⁵ establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck⁵⁶ until she weaned him.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks⁵⁸, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house⁵⁹ of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

And they slew a bullock, and brought⁶⁰ the child to Eli.

And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul⁶¹ liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

For this⁶² child I prayed; and the LORD⁶³ hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Therefore also I have lent him⁶⁴ to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be⁶⁵ lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.