Hannah’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Luke 1:46–56)

1  וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל (And prayed) חַנָּה֙ (Hannah) וַתֹּאמַ֔ר (and said),

עָלַ֤ץ (Rejoices) לִבִּי֙ (My heart) בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (in YHWH);

רָ֥מָה (is exalted) קַרְנִ֖י (My horn) בַּֽיהוָ֑ה (in YHWH).

רָ֤חַב (Is wide) פִּי֙ (my mouth) עַל־ (over) א֣וֹיְבַ֔י (my enemies),

כִּ֥י (for) שָׂמַ֖חְתִּי (I rejoice) בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃ (in Your salvation).

2  אֵין־ (No one) קָד֥וֹשׁ (is holy) כַּיהוָ֖ה (like YHWH),

כִּ֣י (for) אֵ֣ין (there is none) בִּלְתֶּ֑ךָ (besides You),

וְאֵ֥ין (and no) צ֖וּר (rock) כֵּאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (like our God).

3  אַל־ (No) תַּרְבּ֤וּ (do multiply)— תְדַבְּרוּ֙ (to speak) גְּבֹהָ֣ה (proudly) גְבֹהָ֔ה (with pride);

יֵצֵ֥א (goes out) עָתָ֖ק (the old saying) מִפִּיכֶ֑ם (from your⁺ mouth), כִּ֣י (for)

אֵ֤ל (a God) דֵּעוֹת֙ (of knowledge) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH is),

וְלֹא (and by Him) נִתְכְּנ֖וּ (are weighed) עֲלִלֽוֹת׃ (actions).

4  קֶ֥שֶׁת (The bows) גִּבֹּרִ֖ים (of the mighty) חַתִּ֑ים (are broken),

וְנִכְשָׁלִ֖ים (and those who stumbled) אָ֥זְרוּ (are girded with) חָֽיִל׃ (strength).

5  שְׂבֵעִ֤ים (The satisfied) בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ (for bread) נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ (have hired themselves out),

וּרְעֵבִ֖ים (and the hungry) חָדֵ֑לּוּ (have ceased).

עַד־ (Even) עֲקָרָה֙ (The barren woman) יָלְדָ֣ה (has borne) שִׁבְעָ֔ה (seven),

וְרַבַּ֥ת (and she who has many) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) אֻמְלָֽלָה׃ (has languished).

6  יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) מֵמִ֣ית (kills) וּמְחַיֶּ֑ה (and keeps alive);

מוֹרִ֥יד (He brings down) שְׁא֖וֹל (to Sheol) וַיָּֽעַל׃ (and He raises up).

7  יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) מוֹרִ֣ישׁ (makes poor) וּמַעֲשִׁ֑יר (and makes rich);

מַשְׁפִּ֖יל (He brings low) אַף־ (and) מְרוֹמֵֽם׃ (He exalts).

8  מֵקִ֨ים (He raises) מֵעָפָ֜ר (from the dust) דָּ֗ל (the poor)

מֵֽאַשְׁפֹּת֙ (from the ash heap); יָרִ֣ים (He lifts) אֶבְי֔וֹן (the needy)

לְהוֹשִׁיב֙ (to set them) עִם־ (among) נְדִיבִ֔ים (princes),

וְכִסֵּ֥א (and the throne) כָב֖וֹד (of glory) יַנְחִלֵ֑ם (He bestows on them).

כִּ֤י (For) לַֽיהוָה֙ (of YHWH) מְצֻ֣קֵי (are the pillars) אֶ֔רֶץ (of the earth),

וַיָּ֥שֶׁת (and He has set) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (upon them) תֵּבֵֽל׃ (the world).

9  רַגְלֵ֤י (The feet) חֲסִידוֹ (of His holy ones) יִשְׁמֹ֔ר (He will guard),

וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים (and the wicked) בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ (in the darkness) יִדָּ֑מּוּ (shall be silent);

כִּֽי־ (for) לֹ֥א (not) בְכֹ֖חַ (by strength) יִגְבַּר־ (shall prevail) אִֽישׁ׃ (man).

10  יְהוָ֞ה (YHWH)— יֵחַ֣תּוּ (broken down) מְרִיבוֹ (are His adversaries);

עָלוֹ (against them) בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם (from the heavens) יַרְעֵ֔ם (He will thunder).

יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) יָדִ֣ין (will judge) אַפְסֵי־ (the ends) אָ֑רֶץ (of the earth),

וְיִתֶּן־ (and He will give) עֹ֣ז (strength) לְמַלְכּ֔וֹ (to His king)

וְיָרֵ֖ם (and exalt) קֶ֥רֶן (the horn) מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃פ (of His anointed).

11  וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ (And went) אֶלְקָנָ֛ה (Elkanah) הָרָמָ֖תָה (to Ramath) עַל־ (to) בֵּית֑וֹ (his house), וְהַנַּ֗עַר (and the boy) הָיָ֤ה (had been) מְשָׁרֵת֙ (ministering) אֶת־ (to) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֖י (before) עֵלִ֥י (Eli) הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (the priest).

Eli’s Wicked Sons

12  וּבְנֵ֥י (And the sons) עֵלִ֖י (of Eli) בְּנֵ֣י (were sons) בְלִיָּ֑עַל (of worthlessness); לֹ֥א (not) יָדְע֖וּ (they did know) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

13  וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט (And the custom) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (of the priests) אֶת־ (with) הָעָ֑ם (the people) כָּל־ (was when any) אִ֞ישׁ (man) זֹבֵ֣חַ (offered) זֶ֗בַח (a sacrifice), וּבָ֨א (and would come) נַ֤עַר (the servant) הַכֹּהֵן֙ (of the priest) כְּבַשֵּׁ֣ל (at the boiling) הַבָּשָׂ֔ר (of the flesh) וְהַמַּזְלֵ֛ג (and with the fork), שְׁלֹ֥שׁ־ (of three) הַשִּׁנַּ֖יִם (teeth) בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ (in his hand). 14  וְהִכָּ֨ה (And he would thrust it) בַכִּיּ֜וֹר (into the pan), א֣וֹ (or) בַדּ֗וּד (the kettle), א֤וֹ (or) בַקַּלַּ֙חַת֙ (the cauldron), א֣וֹ (or) בַפָּר֔וּר (the pot). כֹּ֚ל (All) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יַעֲלֶ֣ה (brought up) הַמַּזְלֵ֔ג (the fork) יִקַּ֥ח (would take) הַכֹּהֵ֖ן (the priest) בּ֑וֹ (for himself). כָּ֚כָה (Thus) יַעֲשׂ֣וּ (they did) לְכָל־ (to all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) הַבָּאִ֥ים (who came) שָׁ֖ם (there) בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃ (to Shiloh).

15  גַּם֮ (Also) בְּטֶרֶם֮ (before) יַקְטִר֣וּן (they burned) אֶת־ (-) הַחֵלֶב֒ (the fat), וּבָ֣א׀ (and would come) נַ֣עַר (the servant) הַכֹּהֵ֗ן (of the priest) וְאָמַר֙ (and say) לָאִ֣ישׁ (to the man) הַזֹּבֵ֔חַ (who sacrificed), תְּנָ֣ה (Give) בָשָׂ֔ר (flesh) לִצְל֖וֹת (for roasting) לַכֹּהֵ֑ן (to the priest); וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִקַּ֧ח (he will take) מִמְּךָ֛ (from you) בָּשָׂ֥ר (flesh) מְבֻשָּׁ֖ל (boiled) כִּ֥י (but) אִם־ (only) חָֽי׃ (raw).

16  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֵלָ֜יו (to him) הָאִ֗ישׁ (the man), קַטֵּ֨ר (Burning) יַקְטִיר֤וּן (must be burned) כַּיּוֹם֙ (first) הַחֵ֔לֶב (the fat), וְקַ֨ח־ (and you may take) לְךָ֔ (to you) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) תְּאַוֶּ֖ה (desires) נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ (your soul), וְאָמַ֥ר׀ (and he would answer) לוֹ (to him), כִּ֚י (Surely) עַתָּ֣ה (now) תִתֵּ֔ן (you must give it), וְאִם־ (and if) לֹ֖א (not), לָקַ֥חְתִּי (I will take it) בְחָזְקָֽה׃ (by force).

17  וַתְּהִ֨י (Therefore was) חַטַּ֧את (the sin) הַנְּעָרִ֛ים (of the young men) גְּדוֹלָ֥ה (great) מְאֹ֖ד (very) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֣י (before) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), כִּ֤י (for) נִֽאֲצוּ֙ (despised) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men) אֵ֖ת (-) מִנְחַ֥ת (the offering) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

18  וּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל (And Samuel) מְשָׁרֵ֖ת (ministered) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֣י (before) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), נַ֕עַר (a boy) חָג֖וּר (girded) אֵפ֥וֹד (with an ephod) בָּֽד׃ (of linen). 19  וּמְעִ֤יל (And a robe) קָטֹן֙ (small) תַּעֲשֶׂה־ (would make) לּ֣וֹ (for him) אִמּ֔וֹ (his mother) וְהַעַלְתָ֥ה (and bring it) ל֖וֹ (to him) מִיָּמִ֣ים׀ (year by) יָמִ֑ימָה (year) בַּֽעֲלוֹתָהּ֙ (in her coming up) אֶת־ (with) אִישָׁ֔הּ (her husband) לִזְבֹּ֖חַ (to offer) אֶת־ (-) זֶ֥בַח (sacrifice) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (the yearly). 20  וּבֵרַ֨ךְ (And would bless) עֵלִ֜י (Eli) אֶת־ (-) אֶלְקָנָ֣ה (Elkanah) וְאֶת־ (and) אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ (his wife) וְאָמַר֙ (and say), יָשֵׂם֩ (May give) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) לְךָ֥ (to you) זֶ֙רַע֙ (seed) מִן־ (from) הָאִשָּׁ֣ה (the woman) הַזֹּ֔את (this) תַּ֚חַת (in place) הַשְּׁאֵלָ֔ה (of the request) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁאַ֖ל (one requested) לַֽיהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וְהָלְכ֖וּ (and they would go) לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃ (to their own home).

21  כִּֽי־ (And) פָקַ֤ד (visited) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) חַנָּ֔ה (Hannah), וַתַּ֛הַר (and she conceived) וַתֵּ֥לֶד (and bore) שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־ (three) בָנִ֖ים (sons) וּשְׁתֵּ֣י (and two) בָנ֑וֹת (daughters).

וַיִּגְדַּ֛ל (And grew up) הַנַּ֥עַר (the boy) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) עִם־ (before) יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH).

22  וְעֵלִ֖י (And Eli) זָקֵ֣ן (was old) מְאֹ֑ד (very), וְשָׁמַ֗ע (and he heard) אֵת֩ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יַעֲשׂ֤וּן (did) בָּנָיו֙ (his sons) לְכָל־ (to all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וְאֵ֤ת (and) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (how) יִשְׁכְּבוּן֙ (they lay) אֶת־ (with) הַנָּשִׁ֔ים (the women) הַצֹּ֣בְא֔וֹת (who assembled) פֶּ֖תַח (at the door) אֹ֥הֶל (of the Tent) מוֹעֵֽד׃ (of Meeting).

23  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לָהֶ֔ם (to them), לָ֥מָּה (Why) תַעֲשׂ֖וּן (do you⁺ do) כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים (the things) הָאֵ֑לֶּה (these)? אֲשֶׁ֨ר (For) אָנֹכִ֤י (I) שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ (hear) אֶת־ (of) דִּבְרֵיכֶ֣ם (your⁺ deeds) רָעִ֔ים (evil) מֵאֵ֖ת (from) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֥ם (the people) אֵֽלֶּה׃ (these). 24  אַ֖ל (No), בָּנָ֑י (my sons), כִּ֠י (for) לֽוֹא־ (it not) טוֹבָ֤ה (good) הַשְּׁמֻעָה֙ (the report) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אָנֹכִ֣י (I) שֹׁמֵ֔עַ (hear) מַעֲבִרִ֖ים (spreading) עַם־ (among the people) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 25  אִם־ (If) יֶחֱטָ֨א (sins) אִ֤ישׁ (one man) לְאִישׁ֙ (against another) וּפִֽלְל֣וֹ (and will judge him) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), וְאִ֤ם (but if) לַֽיהוָה֙ (against YHWH) יֶֽחֱטָא־ (sins) אִ֔ישׁ (a man), מִ֖י (who) יִתְפַּלֶּל־ (will intercede) ל֑וֹ (for him)?

וְלֹ֤א (Not) יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ (they listened) לְק֣וֹל (to the voice) אֲבִיהֶ֔ם (of their father), כִּֽי־ (because) חָפֵ֥ץ (delighted) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) לַהֲמִיתָֽם׃ (to put them to death).

26  וְהַנַּ֣עַר (And the boy) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel) הֹלֵ֥ךְ (was going on) וְגָדֵ֖ל (and growing up), וָט֑וֹב (and in favor) גַּ֚ם (both) עִם־ (with) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) וְגַ֖ם (and) עִם־ (with) אֲנָשִֽׁים׃ס (men).

A Prophecy against the House of Eli

27  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And came) אִישׁ־ (a man) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) אֶל־ (to) עֵלִ֑י (Eli) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), הֲנִגְלֹ֤ה (Did by revelation) נִגְלֵ֙יתִי֙ (I reveal Myself) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֣ית (the house) אָבִ֔יךָ (of your father) בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֥ם (when they were) בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם (in Egypt) לְבֵ֥ית (in the house) פַּרְעֹֽה׃ (of Pharaoh)? 28  וּבָחֹ֣ר (And did I choose) אֹ֠תוֹ (him) מִכָּל־ (out of all) שִׁבְטֵ֨י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל (of Israel) לִי֙ (to Me) לְכֹהֵ֔ן (for a priest), לַעֲל֣וֹת (to offer) עַֽל־ (upon) מִזְבְּחִ֗י (My altar), לְהַקְטִ֥יר (to burn) קְטֹ֛רֶת (incense), לָשֵׂ֥את (and to wear) אֵפ֖וֹד (an ephod) לְפָנָ֑י (before Me)? וָֽאֶתְּנָה֙ (And did I give) לְבֵ֣ית (to the house) אָבִ֔יךָ (of your father) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אִשֵּׁ֖י (the fire offerings) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel)?

29  לָ֣מָּה (Why) תִבְעֲט֗וּ (do you⁺ kick) בְּזִבְחִי֙ (at My sacrifice) וּבְמִנְחָתִ֔י (and at My offering)— אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) צִוִּ֖יתִי (I have commanded) מָע֑וֹן (in My dwelling place)— וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד (and honor) אֶת־ (-) בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ (your sons) מִמֶּ֔נִּי (more than Me) לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶ֗ם (to make yourselves fat) מֵרֵאשִׁ֛ית (with the best) כָּל־ (of all) מִנְחַ֥ת (the offerings) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) לְעַמִּֽי׃ (My people)?

30  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) נְאֻם־ (the declaration) יְהוָה֮ (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel),

אָמ֣וֹר (Speaking) אָמַ֔רְתִּי (I said) בֵּֽיתְךָ֙ (that your house)

וּבֵ֣ית (and the house) אָבִ֔יךָ (of your father)

יִתְהַלְּכ֥וּ (would walk) לְפָנַ֖י (before Me) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֑ם (forever).

וְעַתָּ֤ה (And) נְאֻם־ (the declaration) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH),

חָלִ֣ילָה (Far be it) לִּ֔י (from Me)!

כִּֽי־ (For) מְכַבְּדַ֥י (those honoring Me) אֲכַבֵּ֖ד (I will honor),

וּבֹזַ֥י (and those despising Me) יֵקָֽלּוּ׃ (shall be lightly esteemed).

31  הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), יָמִ֣ים (the days) בָּאִ֔ים (are coming), וְגָֽדַעְתִּי֙ (and I will cut off) אֶת־ (-) זְרֹ֣עֲךָ֔ (your arm) וְאֶת־ (and) זְרֹ֖עַ (the arm) בֵּ֣ית (of house) אָבִ֑יךָ (of your father), מִֽהְי֥וֹת (lest there be) זָקֵ֖ן (an old man) בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃ (in your house). 32  וְהִבַּטְתָּ֙ (And you will see) צַ֣ר (an enemy) מָע֔וֹן (in My dwelling place), בְּכֹ֥ל (in all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יֵיטִ֖יב (He does good) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (with Israel), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִהְיֶ֥ה (there will be) זָקֵ֛ן (an old man) בְּבֵיתְךָ֖ (in your house) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (the days). 33  וְאִ֗ישׁ (And the man) לֹֽא־ (not) אַכְרִ֤ית (I do cut off) לְךָ֙ (of you) מֵעִ֣ם (from) מִזְבְּחִ֔י (My altar), לְכַלּ֥וֹת (I will consume) אֶת־ (-) עֵינֶ֖יךָ (your eyes) וְלַאֲדִ֣יב (and grieve) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ (your heart), וְכָל־ (and all) מַרְבִּ֥ית (the seed) בֵּיתְךָ֖ (of your house) יָמ֥וּתוּ (will die) אֲנָשִֽׁים׃ (as men).

34  וְזֶה־ (And this) לְּךָ֣ (to you) הָא֗וֹת (is a sign) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) יָבֹא֙ (will come) אֶל־ (upon) שְׁנֵ֣י (two) בָנֶ֔יךָ (your sons), אֶל־ (on) חָפְנִ֖י (Hophni) וּפִֽינְחָ֑ס (and Phinehas): בְּי֥וֹם (In day) אֶחָ֖ד (one) יָמ֥וּתוּ (will die) שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ (the two of them).

35  וַהֲקִימֹתִ֥י (And I will raise up) לִי֙ (for Myself) כֹּהֵ֣ן (a priest) נֶאֱמָ֔ן (faithful), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (according to what is) בִּלְבָבִ֥י (in My heart) וּבְנַפְשִׁ֖י (and in My mind) יַעֲשֶׂ֑ה (he will do). וּבָנִ֤יתִי (And I will build) לוֹ֙ (him) בַּ֣יִת (a house) נֶאֱמָ֔ן (steadfast), וְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ (and he will walk) לִפְנֵֽי־ (before the face of) מְשִׁיחִ֖י (My anointed) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (the days).

36  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it will come to pass that) כָּל־ (everyone) הַנּוֹתָר֙ (remaining) בְּבֵ֣יתְךָ֔ (in your house) יָבוֹא֙ (will come) לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֣ת (to bow down) ל֔וֹ (to him) לַאֲג֥וֹרַת (for a piece) כֶּ֖סֶף (of silver) וְכִכַּר־ (and a morsel) לָ֑חֶם (of bread), וְאָמַ֗ר (and he will say), סְפָחֵ֥נִי (put me), נָ֛א (please), אֶל־ (in) אַחַ֥ת (one) הַכְּהֻנּ֖וֹת (of the priestly positions), לֶאֱכֹ֥ל (that I may eat) פַּת־ (a morsel) לָֽחֶם׃ס (of bread).