¹Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim , and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham , the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu , the son of Zuph , an Ephraimite.

²He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah , and the name of the other Peninnah . Peninnah had children , but Hannah had no children .

³This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Armies in Shiloh . The two sons of Eli , Hophni and Phinehas , priests to the LORD , were there .[#1:3 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “”, usually pronounced Yahweh).]

⁴When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed , he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters ;

⁵but he gave a double portion to Hannah , for he loved Hannah , but the LORD had shut up her womb .

⁶Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her , because the LORD had shut up her womb .

⁷So year by year , when she went up to the LORD ’s house , her rival provoked her . Therefore she wept , and didn’t eat.

⁸Elkanah her husband said to her , “Hannah , why do you weep ? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved ? Am I not better to you than ten sons ?”

⁹So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh . Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the LORD ’s temple .

¹⁰She was in bitterness of soul , and prayed to the LORD , weeping bitterly .

¹¹She vowed a vow , and said, “LORD of Armies , if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant and remember me , and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life , and no razor shall come on his head .”

¹²As she continued praying before the LORD , Eli saw her mouth .

¹³Now Hannah spoke in her heart . Only her lips moved , but her voice was not heard . Therefore Eli thought she was drunk .

¹⁴Eli said to her , “How long will you be drunk ? Get rid of your wine !”

¹⁵Hannah answered , “No , my lord , I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit . I have not been drinking wine or strong drink , but I poured out my soul before the LORD .

¹⁶Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman ; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation .”

¹⁷Then Eli answered , “Go in peace ; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him .”[#1:17 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “” (Elohim).]

¹⁸She said, “Let your servant find favour in your sight .” So the woman went her way and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more .

¹⁹They rose up in the morning early and worshipped the LORD , then returned and came to their house to Ramah . Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her .

²⁰When the time had come , Hannah conceived , and bore a son ; and she named him Samuel , saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD .”[#1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for “heard by God.”]

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

²²But Hannah didn’t go up , for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned ; then I will bring him , that he may appear before the LORD , and stay there forever .”

²³Elkanah her husband said to her , “Do what seems good to you . Wait until you have weaned him ; only may the LORD establish his word .”

So the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him .

²⁴When she had weaned him , she took him up with her, with three bulls , and one ephah of meal , and a container of wine , and brought him to the LORD ’s house in Shiloh . The child was young .[#1:24 1 ephah is about 22 litres or about 2/3 of a bushel]

²⁵They killed the bull , and brought the child to Eli .

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

²⁷I prayed for this child , and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him .

²⁸Therefore I have also given him to the LORD . As long as he lives he is given to the LORD .” He worshipped the LORD there .