1 ¶ There was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, in the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

2 And he had two wives; one was named Hannah, and the other was named Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not have any children.

3 And every year this man went up from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

4 And on the day that Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he gave portions of the meat to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and daughters:

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

6 And her rival also provoked her mercilessly, to vex her, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

7 And so it went on year by year, when Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, Peninnah provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

8 Then Elkanah her husband asked, Hannah, why are you weeping? and why are you not eating? and why is your heart grieved? am not I more to you than ten sons?

9 ¶ So Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

10 And Hannah was in distress of soul, and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.

11 And she vowed a vow, saying, O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give me a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor come upon his head.

12 And as she continued praying before the LORD, Eli noticed her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

14 And Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? Get rid of your wine.

15 But Hannah answered, 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.

16 Do not regard your handmaid as a daughter of Belial: for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.

17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have made of him.

18 And she said, Let your handmaid find favor in your eyes. So Hannah went her way, and ate, and she no longer looked so sad.

19 ¶ Then the family got up early the next morning, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

20 Therefore it came to pass, in due time after Hannah conceived, that she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, because she said, I have asked him of the LORD.

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

22 But Hannah did not go up; for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and remain there as long as he lives.

23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish his word. So Hannah remained, and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him with her, along with a three-year-old bull, one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh: and the child was young.

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

26 And Hannah said, Oh my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.

27 I prayed for this child; and the LORD has granted the request that I asked of him:

28 Therefore I have also given him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is given to the LORD. And they worshipped the LORD there.