1There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim, from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3Now this man would go up from his city year by year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts at Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there as priests to Yahweh.
4Now the day came when Elkanah sacrificed, and he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters.
5But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah; but Yahweh had closed her womb.
6And her rival would provoke her sorely, so as to irritate her, because Yahweh had closed up her womb.
7So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of Yahweh, she would provoke her so. And she would weep and not eat.
8And Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9Then Hannah rose after eating in Shiloh and after drinking. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh.
10And she, bitter of soul, prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly.
11And she vowed a vow and said, “Yahweh of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant, but give to your servant a male child, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
12And it happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli was watching her mouth.
13Now Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, so Eli thought her to be drunk.
14And Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine from you.”
15But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord; I am a woman heavy of spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before Yahweh.
16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and my vexation I have spoken until now.”
17Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”
18And she said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer as it had been.
19They rose early in the morning and worshiped before Yahweh, then returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and Yahweh remembered her.
20And it happened at the turn of the days that Hannah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, “For I have asked him from Yahweh.”
21Then the man Elkanah went up, with all his household, to sacrifice to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the boy is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh and remain there forever.”
23And Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what is good in your eyes. Stay until you have weaned him; only may Yahweh establish his word.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24Then she brought him up with her, when she had weaned him, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of Yahweh at Shiloh; and the boy was young.
25And they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.
26And she said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to Yahweh.
27For this boy I prayed, and Yahweh has granted me my petition that I asked of him.
28So I also have lent him to Yahweh; as long as he lives he is lent to Yahweh.” And he worshiped Yahweh there.
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