New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
1There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim. | 1A certain man lived in Ramathaim-zophim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim. He was Jeroham's son Elkanah, the grandson of Elihu and grandson of Tohu, who was the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. |
2Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. | 2He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. |
3Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the LORD at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas. | 3That man would go up from his town each year to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of the Heavenly Armies at Shiloh, where Eli's two sons Hophni and Phineas served as priests of the LORD. |
4On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children. | 4On the day when Elkanah offered sacrifices, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, |
5And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the LORD had given her no children. | 5but he would give twice as much to Hannah because he loved her. Now the LORD had closed her womb. |
6So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children. | 6Her rival would provoke her severely so that she complained loudly because the LORD had closed her womb. |
7Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. | 7Elkanah would do this year after year, as often as Hannah went up to the house of the LORD. Likewise, Peninnah would provoke her, and Hannah would cry and would not eat. |
8“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” Hannah’s Prayer for a Son | 8Elkanah her husband told her, "Hannah, why are you crying and why don't you eat? Why are you upset? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" |
9Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. | 9Hannah got up after she had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the chair by the doorpost of the tent of the LORD. |
10Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. | 10Deeply distressed, she prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. |
11And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut. ” | 11Hannah made a vow: "LORD of the Heavenly Armies, if you just look at the misery of your maid servant, remember me, and don't forget your maid servant. If you give your maid servant a son, then I'll give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and a razor is never to touch his head." |
12As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. | 12As she continued to pray in the LORD's presence, Eli was watching her mouth. |
13Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. | 13Hannah was praying inwardly. Her lips were quivering, and her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. |
14“Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” | 14Eli told her, "How long will you stay drunk? Put away your wine!" |
15“Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD. | 15"No, sir!" Hannah replied. "I'm a deeply troubled woman. I've drunk neither wine nor beer. I've been pouring out my soul in the LORD's presence. |
16Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” | 16Don't consider your maid servant a worthless woman. Rather, all this time I've been speaking because I'm very anxious and distressed." |
17“In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” | 17"Go in peace," Eli answered. "May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him." |
18“Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. Samuel’s Birth and Dedication | 18She said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. |
19The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the LORD once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the LORD remembered her plea, | 19They got up early the next morning and worshipped in the LORD's presence, and then they returned and came to their house at Ramah. Elkanah had marital relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. |
20and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the LORD for him.” | 20By the time of the next year's sacrifice, Hannah had become pregnant and had borne a son. She named him Samuel because she said, "I asked the LORD for him." |
21The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the LORD and to keep his vow. | 21Then Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the yearly sacrifice to the LORD and pay his vow. |
22But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the LORD permanently. ” | 22Hannah did not go up because she had told her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I'll take him to appear in the LORD's presence and remain there forever. |
23“Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the LORD help you keep your promise. ” So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned. | 23"Do what you want," Elkanah told her. "Stay until you have weaned him, only may the LORD bring about what you've said." So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. |
24When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and a basket of flour and some wine. | 24Then, when she had weaned him, she brought him up with her to Shiloh, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh, and the boy was young. |
25After sacrificing the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. | 25They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. |
26“Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the very woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD. | 26Hannah said, "Sir, as surely as you are alive, I'm the woman who stood before you here praying to the LORD. |
27I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. | 27I prayed for this boy, and the LORD granted me the request I asked of him. |
28Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.” And they worshiped the LORD there. | 28Now I'm dedicating him to the LORD, and as long as he lives, he will be dedicated to the LORD." Then they worshipped the LORD there. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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