1 Samuel, 1

1. Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, 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:

1. There was a man from Rama-thaim, in the hills of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah. He was son of Tohu, son of Jeroham, of the clan of Zuph.

2. 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.

2. He had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children but Hannah had none.

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

3. Every year Elkanah went to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts at Shiloh. The priests there were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas.

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

4. Whenever Elkanah offered sacrifice, he gave portions to his wife, Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

5. But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

5. To Hannah, however, he gave the more delightful portion because he loved her more, although she had no child.

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

6. Yet Hannah's rival used to tease her for being barren.

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

7. So it happened every year when they went to Yahweh's house. Peninnah irritated Hannah and she would weep and refuse to eat.

8. Then said Elkanah her husband to 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?

8. Once Elkanah, her husband, asked her, "Hannah, why do you weep instead of eating? Why are you sad? Are you not better off with me than with many sons?"

9. So 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.

9. After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah stood up not far from Eli, the priest: his seat was beside the doorpost of Yahweh's house.

10. And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

10. Deeply distressed she wept and prayed to Yahweh

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

11. and made this vow, "O Yahweh of hosts, if only you will have compassion on your maidservant and give me a son, I will put him in your service for as long as he lives and no razor shall touch his head."

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

12. As she prayed before Yahweh, Eli observed the movement of her lips.

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

13. Hannah was praying silently; she moved her lips but uttered no sound and Eli thought Hannah was drunk.

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

14. He, therefore, said to her: "For how long will you be drunk? Let your drunkenness pass."

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

15. But Hannah answered: "No, my lord, I am a woman in great distress, not drunk. I have not drunk wine or strong drink, but I am pouring out my soul before Yahweh.

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

16. Do not take me for a bad woman. I was so afflicted that my prayer flowed continuously."

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

17. Then Eli said, "Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you asked for."

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

18. Hannah answered, "Let your maidservant deserve your kindness." Then she left the temple and when she was at table, she seemed a different woman.

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

19. Elkanah rose early in the morning and worshiped before Yahweh with his wives. Then they went back home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with his wife, Hannah, Yahweh took compassion on her,

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

20. and she became pregnant. She gave birth to a son and called him Samuel because she said: "I have asked Yahweh to give him to me."

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

21. Once more Elkanah went to the temple with his family to offer his yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow to Yahweh.

22. But 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 the LORD, and there abide for ever.

22. Hannah would not go along but she said to her husband, "I will bring the child there as soon as he is weaned. He shall be presented to Yahweh and stay there forever."

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

23. Her husband answered, "Do what seems best to you. Stay here until you have weaned the child and may Yahweh confirm your vow." So Hannah stayed behind and continued to nurse her son until he was weaned.

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

24. When the child was weaned, Hannah took him with her along with a three-year-old bull, a measure of flour and a flask of wine, and she brought him to Yahweh's house at Shiloh. The child was still young.

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

25. After they had slain the bull, they brought the child to Eli.

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

26. Hannah exclaimed: "Oh, my lord, look! I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to Yahweh.

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

27. I asked for this child and Yahweh granted me the favor I begged of him.

28. Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

28. Now, I think, Yahweh is asking for this child. As long as he lives, he belongs to Yahweh." And they worshiped Yahweh there.