Hannah's grief
There was a man from Ramathaim-Zophim in the hill country of Ephraim named Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. He had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah didn't. Every year Elkanah went up from his town to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord there. Whenever Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he gave portions to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But Hannah received a special portion because he loved her, even though the Lord had closed her womb. Her rival kept needling her cruelly about it, trying to make her miserable because the Lord had closed her womb. It happened year after year. Every time Hannah went up to the Lord's house, Peninnah gave her grief until Hannah was in tears and couldn't eat. Elkanah would say: Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why are you so miserable? Aren't I worth more to you than ten sons? After they'd eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah got up. Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the doorpost of the Lord's temple. Deeply distressed, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. She made a vow: Lord Almighty, if you'll look on your servant's misery, remember me and not forget me, and give me a son, I'll give him to the Lord for all his life, and no razor will touch his head. As she kept praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; her lips were moving but no sound came out. Eli took her for drunk. He said: How long are you going to carry on drunk? Put the wine away. No, my lord, Hannah replied. I'm a deeply troubled woman. I haven't been drinking wine or anything strong. I've been pouring my heart out before the Lord. Don't take me for a worthless woman. I've been speaking out of deep anguish and grief. Eli answered: Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant what you've asked of him. May your servant find favour with you, she said. Then she went away, ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. And he had two wives. The name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his town year by year to bow down and to sacrifice to the Lord Almighty in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And when the day came that Elkanah offered, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved Hannah. But the Lord had shut up her womb. And the one who was against her stirred her up hard too, to make her upset, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And that's how it went year by year. When she went up to the house of the Lord, that's how she stirred her up. So she wept and wouldn't eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her: Hannah, why do you weep? And why don't you eat? And why is your heart upset? Aren't I better to you than ten sons? So Hannah got up after they'd eaten in Shiloh and after they'd drunk. Now Eli the priest sat on a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. And she was bitter in soul and prayed to the Lord and wept hard. And she made a vow: Lord Almighty, if you'll really look at the trouble of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give your servant a boy, then I'll give him to the Lord all the days of his life. And no razor will come on his head. And while she kept on praying in front of the Lord, Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice wasn't heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. And Eli said to her: How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine. And Hannah answered: No, my lord. I'm a woman of a sad spirit. I haven't drunk wine or strong drink, but I've poured out my soul in front of the Lord. Don't count your servant as a worthless woman. Because I've spoken out of the greatness of my complaint and grief till now. Then Eli answered: Go in peace. And the God of Israel give you what you've asked of him. And she said: Let your servant find favour in your sight. So the woman went her way and ate, and her face wasn't sad any more.
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: 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. 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. And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 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. 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? 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. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 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. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 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. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 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.
There was a man from Ramathaim-Zophim in the hill country of Ephraim named Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
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:
He had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah didn't.
And he had two wives. The name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
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.
Every year Elkanah went up from his town to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord there.
And this man went up out of his town year by year to bow down and to sacrifice to the Lord Almighty in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
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.
Whenever Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he gave portions to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
And when the day came that Elkanah offered, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters.
And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
But Hannah received a special portion because he loved her, even though the Lord had closed her womb.
But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved Hannah. But the Lord had shut up her womb.
But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
Her rival kept needling her cruelly about it, trying to make her miserable because the Lord had closed her womb.
And the one who was against her stirred her up hard too, to make her upset, because the Lord had shut up her womb.
And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
It happened year after year. Every time Hannah went up to the Lord's house, Peninnah gave her grief until Hannah was in tears and couldn't eat.
And that's how it went year by year. When she went up to the house of the Lord, that's how she stirred her up. So she wept and wouldn't eat.
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.
Elkanah would say: Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why are you so miserable? Aren't I worth more to you than ten sons?
Then Elkanah her husband said to her: Hannah, why do you weep? And why don't you eat? And why is your heart upset? Aren't I better to you than ten sons?
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?
After they'd eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah got up. Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the doorpost of the Lord's temple.
So Hannah got up after they'd eaten in Shiloh and after they'd drunk. Now Eli the priest sat on a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
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.
Deeply distressed, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.
And she was bitter in soul and prayed to the Lord and wept hard.
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
She made a vow: Lord Almighty, if you'll look on your servant's misery, remember me and not forget me, and give me a son, I'll give him to the Lord for all his life, and no razor will touch his head.
And she made a vow: Lord Almighty, if you'll really look at the trouble of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give your servant a boy, then I'll give him to the Lord all the days of his life. And no razor will come on his head.
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.
As she kept praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth.
And while she kept on praying in front of the Lord, Eli watched her mouth.
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
Hannah was praying silently; her lips were moving but no sound came out. Eli took her for drunk.
Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice wasn't heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
He said: How long are you going to carry on drunk? Put the wine away.
And Eli said to her: How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine.
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
No, my lord, Hannah replied. I'm a deeply troubled woman. I haven't been drinking wine or anything strong. I've been pouring my heart out before the Lord.
And Hannah answered: No, my lord. I'm a woman of a sad spirit. I haven't drunk wine or strong drink, but I've poured out my soul in front of the Lord.
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.
Don't take me for a worthless woman. I've been speaking out of deep anguish and grief.
Don't count your servant as a worthless woman. Because I've spoken out of the greatness of my complaint and grief till now.
Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
Eli answered: Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant what you've asked of him.
Then Eli answered: Go in peace. And the God of Israel give you what you've asked of him.
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
May your servant find favour with you, she said. Then she went away, ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
And she said: Let your servant find favour in your sight. So the woman went her way and ate, and her face wasn't sad any more.
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.
Samuel born and given
Early the next morning they worshipped before the Lord and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. In due time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying: I asked the Lord for him. Elkanah and his whole household went up to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and fulfil his vow. Hannah stayed behind. She told her husband: I'll wait until the boy is weaned. Then I'll take him and present him before the Lord, and he'll stay there for good. Elkanah said: Do what you think is best. Stay until you've weaned him; only may the Lord fulfil his word. So Hannah stayed home and nursed her son until he was weaned. After she had weaned Samuel, Hannah took him with her to Shiloh, along with three bulls, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord while he was still very young. They slaughtered a bull and brought the boy to Eli. She said: My lord, as surely as you live, I'm the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this boy, and the Lord gave me what I asked him for. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life, he belongs to the Lord. And they worshipped the Lord there.
And they got up early in the morning and bowed down in front of the Lord, and came back to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So when the time had come round after Hannah had conceived, she had a son and called his name Samuel: Because I've asked him of the Lord. And the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer the yearly sacrifice to the Lord, and his vow. But Hannah didn't go up. Because she said to her husband: I won't go up till the child is weaned. And then I'll bring him, so he can show himself in front of the Lord and stay there forever. And Elkanah her husband said to her: Do what seems good to you. Wait till you've weaned him. Only the Lord make his word firm. So the woman stayed and fed her son till she weaned him. And when she'd weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls and a bushel of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. And they killed a bull and brought the child to Eli. And she said: My lord, as surely as your soul lives, my lord, I'm the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has given me what I asked of him. So I've lent him to the Lord too. As long as he lives, he's lent to the Lord. And he bowed down to the Lord there.
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. 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. And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 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. 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. 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. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 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. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 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.
Early the next morning they worshipped before the Lord and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
And they got up early in the morning and bowed down in front of the Lord, and came back to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
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.
In due time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying: I asked the Lord for him.
So when the time had come round after Hannah had conceived, she had a son and called his name Samuel: Because I've asked him of the Lord.
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.
Elkanah and his whole household went up to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and fulfil his vow.
And the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer the yearly sacrifice to the Lord, and his vow.
And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
Hannah stayed behind. She told her husband: I'll wait until the boy is weaned. Then I'll take him and present him before the Lord, and he'll stay there for good.
But Hannah didn't go up. Because she said to her husband: I won't go up till the child is weaned. And then I'll bring him, so he can show himself in front of the Lord and stay there forever.
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.
Elkanah said: Do what you think is best. Stay until you've weaned him; only may the Lord fulfil his word. So Hannah stayed home and nursed her son until he was weaned.
And Elkanah her husband said to her: Do what seems good to you. Wait till you've weaned him. Only the Lord make his word firm. So the woman stayed and fed her son till she weaned him.
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.
After she had weaned Samuel, Hannah took him with her to Shiloh, along with three bulls, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord while he was still very young.
And when she'd weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls and a bushel of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young.
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.
They slaughtered a bull and brought the boy to Eli.
And they killed a bull and brought the child to Eli.
And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
She said: My lord, as surely as you live, I'm the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.
And she said: My lord, as surely as your soul lives, my lord, I'm the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord.
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.
I prayed for this boy, and the Lord gave me what I asked him for.
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has given me what I asked of him.
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life, he belongs to the Lord. And they worshipped the Lord there.
So I've lent him to the Lord too. As long as he lives, he's lent to the Lord. And he bowed down to the Lord there.
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.