1  NOW 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.

1  There was a man of Armathaim Sipha, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Helkana, a son of Jeremeel the son of Elias the son of Thoke, in Nasib Ephraim.

2  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.

3  And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto YHWH of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there priests unto the YHWH.

3  And the man went up from year to year from his city, from Armathaim, to worship and sacrifice to the Lord God of Sabaoth at Selom: and there were Heli and his two sons Ophni and Phinees, the priests of the Lord.

4  And it came to pass upon a day, when Elkanah sacrificed, that he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions;

4  And the day came, and Helkana sacrificed, and gave portions to his wife Phennana and her children.

4  Then the day arrived, and Elkanah immolated. And he gave portions to his wife Peninnah, and to all her sons and daughters.

5  but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but YHWH had shut up her womb.

5  And to Anna he gave a prime portion, because she had no child, only Helkana loved Anna more than the other; but the Lord had closed her womb.

5  But to Hannah he gave one portion with sorrow. For he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.

6  And her rival vexed her sore, to make her fret, because YHWH had shut up her womb.

6  For the Lord gave her no child in her affliction, and according to the despondency of her affliction; and she was dispirited on this account, that the Lord shut up her womb so as not to give her a child.

6  And her rival afflicted her and vehemently distressed her, to a great extent, for she rebuked her that the Lord had closed her womb.

7  And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of YHWH, so she vexed her; therefore she wept, and would not eat.

7  So she did year by year, in going up to the house of the Lord; and she was dispirited, and wept, and did not eat.

7  And she did so every year, when the time returned for them to ascend to the temple of the Lord. And she provoked her in this way. And so, she wept and did not take food.

8  And Elkanah her husband said unto 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?'

8  And Helkana her husband said to her, Anna: and she said to him, Here am I, my lord: and he said to her, What ails thee that thou weepest? and why dost thou not eat? and why does thy heart smite thee? am I not better to thee than ten children?

8  Therefore, her husband Elkanah said to her: “Hannah, why are you weeping? And why do you not eat? And for what reason do you afflict your heart? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

9  So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk--now Eli the priest sat upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of YHWH;

9  And Anna rose up after they had eaten in Selom, and stood before the Lord: and Heli the priest was on a seat by the threshold of the temple of the Lord.

9  And so, after she ate and drank at Shiloh, Hannah rose up. And Eli, the priest, was sitting on the seat before the door of the temple of the Lord.

10  and she was in bitterness of soul--and prayed unto YHWH, and wept sore.

10  And she was very much grieved in spirit, and prayed to the Lord, and wept abundantly.

11  And she vowed a vow, and said: 'O YHWH of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thy handmaid, but wilt give unto Thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto YHWH all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.'

11  And she vowed a vow to the Lord, saying, O Lord God of Sabaoth, if thou welt indeed look upon the humiliation of thine handmaid, and remember me, and give to thine handmaid a man-child, then will I indeed dedicate him to thee till the day of his death; and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and no razor shall come upon his head.

11  And she made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if, in looking with favor, you will see the affliction of your servant and will remember me, and will not forget your handmaid, and if you will give to your servant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall pass over his head.”

12  And it came to pass, as she prayed long before YHWH, that Eli watched her mouth.

12  Then it happened that, while she multiplied prayers before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

13  Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard; therefore, Eli thought she had been drunken.

13  And she was speaking in her heart, and her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: and Heli accounted her a drunken woman.

13  For Hannah was speaking in her heart, and only her lips moved, and her voice was barely heard. Therefore, Eli considered her to be drunk,

14  And Eli said unto her: 'How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.'

14  And the servant of Heli said to her, How long wilt thou be drunken? take away thy wine from thee, and go out from the presence of the Lord.

14  and so he said to her: “How long will you be inebriated? You should take only a little wine, but instead you are drenched.”

15  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 I poured out my soul before YHWH.

15  Responding, Hannah said: “By no means, my lord. For I am an exceedingly unhappy woman, and I drank neither wine, nor anything that can inebriate. Instead, I have poured out my soul in the sight of the Lord.

16  Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman: for out of the abundance of my complaint and my vexation have I spoken hitherto.'

16  You should not repute your handmaid as one of the daughters of Belial. For I have been speaking from the abundance of my sorrow and grief, even until now.”

16  Count not your maidservant in your presence a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my sorrow and grief have I spoken hitherto.

17  Then Eli answered and said: 'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of Him.'

17  Then Eli said to her: “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel grant to you your petition, which you have begged of him.”

18  And she said: 'Let thy servant find favour in thy sight.' So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

18  And she said, Thine handmaid has found favour in thine eyes: and the woman went her way, and entered into her lodging, and ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was no more sad.

18  And she said, “I wish that your handmaid may find grace in your eyes.” And the woman went on her way, and she ate, and her countenance was no longer changed for the worse.

19  And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before YHWH, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah; and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the YHWH remembered her.

19  And they rise early in the morning, and worship the Lord, and they go their way: and Helkana went into his house at Armathaim, and knew his wife Anna; and the Lord remembered her, and she conceived.

20  And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she called his name Samuel: 'because I have asked him of YHWH.'

20  And it happened that, in the course of days, Hannah conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Samuel, because she had requested him from the Lord.

21  And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto YHWH the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

21  Now her husband Elkanah ascended with his entire house, so that he might immolate to the Lord a solemn sacrifice, with his vow.

22  But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband: 'Until the child be weaned, when I will bring him, that he may appear before YHWH, and there abide for ever.'

22  But Anna did not go up with him, for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child goes up, when I have weaned him, and he shall be presented before the Lord, and he shall abide there continually.

22  But Hannah did not go up. For she said to her husband, “I will not go, until the infant has been weaned, and until I may lead him, so that he may appear before the sight of the Lord, and may remain always there.”

23  And Elkanah her husband said unto her: 'Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only YHWH establish His word.' So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.

23  And Helkana her husband said to her, Do that which is good in thine eyes, abide still until thou shalt have weaned him; but may the Lord establish that which comes out of thy mouth: and the woman tarried, and suckled her son until she had weaned him.

23  And her husband Elkanah said to her: “Do what seems good to you, and stay until you wean him. And I pray that the Lord may fulfill his word.” Therefore, the woman remained at home, and she breastfed her son, until she withdrew him from milk.

24  And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of YHWH in Shiloh; and the child was young.

24  And she went up with him to Selom with a calf of three years old, and loaves, and an ephah of fine flour, and a bottle of wine: and she entered into the house of the Lord in Selom, and the child with them.

24  And after she had weaned him, she brought him with her, along with three calves, and three measures of flour, and a small bottle of wine, and she led him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. But the boy was still a young child.

25  And when the bullock was slain, the child was brought to Eli.

25  And they brought him before the Lord; and his father slew his offering which he offered from year to year to the Lord; and he brought near the child, and slew the calf; and Anna the mother of the child brought him to Heli.

25  And they immolated a calf, and they presented the boy to Eli.

26  And she said: 'Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto YHWH.

26  And Hannah said: “I beg you, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord: I am that woman, who stood before you here, praying to the Lord.

26  Then Hannah said to Eli, I beseech you, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman that stood by you here, praying to the LORD for this boy.

27  For this child I prayed; and YHWH hath granted me my petition which I asked of Him;

27  I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted to me my petition, which I asked of him.

28  therefore I also have lent him to YHWH; as long as he liveth he is lent to the YHWH.' And he worshipped the LORD there.

28  And I lend him to the Lord all his days that he lives, a loan to the Lord: and she said,

28  Because of this, I have also lent him to the Lord, for all the days when he shall be lent to the Lord.” And they adored the Lord in that place. And Hannah prayed, and she said

2:1  And Hannah prayed, and said: my heart exulteth in YHWH, my horn is exalted in the YHWH; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy salvation.

1  My heart is established in the Lord, my horn is exalted in my God; my mouth is enlarged over my enemies, I have rejoiced in thy salvation.

2:2  There is none holy as YHWH, for there is none beside Thee; neither is there any rock like our God.

2  For there is none holy as the Lord, and there is none righteous as our God; there is none holy besides thee.

2  Nothing is holy as the Lord is holy. For there is no other beside you. And nothing is strong as our God is strong.

2:3  Multiply not exceeding proud talk; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; for YHWH is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

3  Boast not, and utter not high things; let not high-sounding words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and God prepares his own designs.

2:4  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

4  The bow of the mighty has waxed feeble, and the weak have girded themselves with strength.

2:5  They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry have ceased; while the barren hath borne seven, she that had many children hath languished.

5  Those who before were filled, have hired themselves out for bread. And the starving have been filled, so that the barren have given birth to many. But she who had borne many sons has become unable.

2:6  YHWH killeth, and maketh alive; He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

6  The Lord brings death, and he gives life. He leads away to death, and he brings back again.

6  It is the LORD who makes men to die and makes alive; he brings down to Sheol and brings up.

2:7  YHWH maketh poor, and maketh rich; He bringeth low, He also lifteth up.

7  The Lord makes poor, and makes rich; he brings low, and lifts up.

7  The Lord impoverishes, and he enriches. He humbles, and he lifts up.

2:8  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dung-hill, to make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory; for the pillars of the earth are YHWH'S, and He hath set the world upon them.

8  He lifts up the poor from the earth, and raises the needy from the dunghill; to seat him with the princes of the people, and causing them to inherit the throne of glory

8  He raises up the indigent from the dust, and he lifts up the poor from filth, so that they may sit with princes, and take hold of a throne of glory. For the hinges of the earth belong to the Lord, and he has placed the globe upon them.

2:9  He will keep the feet of His holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for not by strength shall man prevail.

9  granting his petition to him that prays; and he blesses the years of the righteous, for by strength cannot man prevail.

9  He will preserve the feet of his holy ones, and the impious will be silenced in darkness. For no man will prevail by his own strength.

2:10  They that strive with YHWH shall be broken to pieces; against them will He thunder in heaven; the YHWH will judge the ends of the earth; and He will give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.

10  The Lord will weaken his adversary; the Lord is holy. Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast in his strength, and let not the rich man boast in his wealth; but let him that boasts boast in this, to understand and know the Lord, and to execute judgement and justice in the midst of the earth. The Lord has gone up to the heavens, and has thundered: he will judge the extremities of the earth, and he gives strength to our kings, and will exalt the horn of his Christ. And she left him there before the Lord,

2:11  And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto YHWH before Eli the priest.

11  and departed to Armathaim: and the child ministered in the presence of the Lord before Heli the priest.

2:12  Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not YHWH.

12  And the sons of Heli the priest were evil sons, not knowing the Lord.

12  But the sons of Eli were sons of Belial, not knowing the Lord,

2:13  And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his band;

13  nor the priestly office for the people. And so, no matter who had immolated a victim, the servant of the priest would arrive, while the flesh was still cooking, and he would take a three-pronged hook in his hand,

13  They took the dues of the priests from the people, of every man who offered a sacrifice; and they made for themselves meat-forks with three prongs, and the priest's servant came, while the meat was boiling, with the three-pronged fork in his hand,

2:14  and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did unto all the Israelites that came thither in Shiloh.

14  And he struck it into the great caldron, or into the brazen vessel, or into the pot, and whatever came up with the flesh-hook, the priest took for himself: so they did to all Israel that came to sacrifice to the Lord in Selom.

14  and put it into the vessel, or into the cauldron, or into the cooking pot, or into the pan, and all that the hook lifted up, the priest took for himself. So they did to all of Israel who arrived at Shiloh.

2:15  Yea, before the fat was made to smoke, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed: 'Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.'

15  And before the fat was burnt for a sweet savour, the servant of the priest would come, and say to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest, and I will by no means take of thee sodden flesh out of the caldron.

15  Also before they burnt the sacrifices, the priest's servant came and said to the man who was sacrificing, Give meat to roast for the priest; for I will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.

2:16  And if the man said unto him: 'Let the fat be made to smoke first of all, and then take as much as thy soul desireth'; then he would say: 'Nay, but thou shalt give it me now; and if not, I will take it by force.'

16  And the one who was immolating would say to him, “First, allow the fat to be burned today, according to custom, and then take for yourself whatever your soul desires.” But in response, he would say to him: “By no means. For you will give it to me now, otherwise I will take it by force.”

2:17  And the sin of the young men was very great before YHWH; for the men dealt contemptuously with the offering of the YHWH.

17  So the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for they set at nought the offering of the Lord.

17  Therefore, the sin of the servants was exceedingly great before the Lord. For they drew men away from the sacrifice of the Lord.

2:18  But Samuel ministered before YHWH, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

2:19  Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

19  And his mother made him a little doublet, and brought it to him from year to year, in her going up in company with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

19  And his mother fashioned a little tunic for him, which she brought to him on the appointed days, ascending with her husband, so that he might immolate the solemn sacrifice.

2:20  And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say: 'YHWH give thee seed of this woman for the loan which was lent to YHWH.' And they would go unto their own home.

20  And Heli blessed Helcana and his wife, saying The Lord recompense to thee seed of this woman, in return for the loan which thou hast lent to the Lord: and the man returned to his place.

20  And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife. And he said to him, “May the Lord repay to you offspring from this woman, on behalf of the loan that you offered to the Lord.” And they went away to their own place.

2:21  So YHWH remembered Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the YHWH.

21  And the Lord visited Anna, and she bore yet three sons, and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

21  Then the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the youth Samuel was magnified with the Lord.

2:22  Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting.

22  And Heli was very old, and he heard what his sons did to the children of Israel.

2:23  And he said unto them: 'Why do ye such things? for I hear evil reports concerning you from all this people.

23  And he said to them, Why do ye according to this thing, which I hear from the mouth of all the people of the Lord?

2:24  Nay, my sons; for it is no good report which I hear YHWH'S people do spread abroad.

24  Nay my sons, for the report which I hear is not good; do not so, for the reports which I hear are not good, so that the people do not serve God.

24  My sons, do not be willing. For it is no good report that I am hearing, so that you would cause the people of the Lord to transgress.

2:25  If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against YHWH, who shall entreat for him?' But they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the YHWH would slay them.

25  If a man should at all sin against another, then shall they pray for him to the Lord; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? But they hearkened not to the voice of their father, because the Lord would by all means destroy them.

2:26  And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in favour both with YHWH, and also with men.

26  But the youth Samuel advanced, and grew up, and he was pleasing to the Lord, as well as to men.

2:27  And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him: 'Thus saith YHWH: Did I reveal Myself unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house?

27  And a man of God came to Heli, and said, Thus says the Lord, I plainly revealed myself to the house of thy father, when they were servants in Egypt to the house of Pharao.

27  Then a man of God went to Eli, and he said to him: “Thus says the Lord: Was I not revealed openly to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in the house of Pharaoh?

2:28  And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to go up unto Mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

28  And I chose the house of thy father out of all the tribes of Israel to minister to me in the priest’s office, to go up to my altar, and to burn incense, and to wear an ephod. And I gave to the house of thy father all the offerings by fire of the children of Israel for food.

28  And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel for myself as priest, so that he might ascend to my altar, and burn incense to me, and wear the ephod before me. And I gave to the house of your father all the sacrifices of the sons of Israel.

2:29  Wherefore kick ye at My sacrifice and at Mine offering, which I have commanded in My habitation; and honourest thy sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel My people?

2:30  Therefore YHWH, the God of Israel, saith: I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before Me for ever; but now the YHWH saith: Be it far from Me: for them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

30  Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel, I said, Thy house and the house of thy father shall pass before me for ever: but now the Lord says, That be far from me; for I will only honour them that honour me, and he that sets me at nought shall be despised.

30  Because of this, the Lord God of Israel says: I have spoken clearly, so that your house, and the house of your father, may minister in my sight, even forever. But now the Lord says: May this be far from me. Instead, whoever will have glorified me, I will glorify him. But whoever despises me, they will be despised.

2:31  Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house.

31  Behold the days are arriving, when I will cut off your arm, and the arm of the house of your father, so that there will not be an old man in your house.

2:32  And thou shalt behold a rival in My habitation, in all the good which shall be done to Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever.

32  And thou shalt not have an old man in my house for ever.

32  And you will see your rival in the temple, amid all the prosperity of Israel. And there will not be an old man in your house for all days.

2:33  Yet will I not cut off every man of thine from Mine altar, to make thine eyes to fail, and thy heart to languish; and all the increase of thy house shall die young men.

33  And if I do not destroy a man of thine from my altar, it shall be that his eyes may fail and his soul may perish; and every one that remains in thy house shall fall by the sword of men.

33  Yet truly, I will not entirely take away a man of you from my altar, but such that your eyes may fail, and your soul may melt away, and a great part of your house may die out, as it pertains to the state of men.

2:34  And this shall be the sign unto thee, that which shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.

34  But this will be a sign to you, which will happen to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on one day they both will die.

2:35  And I will raise Me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in My heart and in My mind; and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before Mine anointed for ever.

35  And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will act in accord with my heart and my soul. And I will build a faithful house for him. And he will walk before my Christ for all days.

2:36  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thy house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say: Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.'

36  And it shall come to pass that he that survives in thy house, shall come to do obeisance before him for a little piece of silver, saying, Put me into one of thy priest’s offices to eat bread.

36  Then this will be in the future, that whoever will have remained of your house, he will approach so that he may pray on his behalf. And he will offer a coin of silver, and a twist of bread. And he will say: ‘Permit me, I beg you, one part of the priestly office, so that I may eat a mouthful of bread.’ ”

3:1  And the child Samuel ministered unto YHWH before Eli. And the word of the YHWH was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.

1  Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no manifest vision.

3:2  And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place--now his eyes had begun to wax dim, that he could not see- -

2  Then it happened that, on a certain day, Eli was lying in his place. And his eyes had dimmed, so that he was unable to see.

3:3  and the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down to sleep in the temple of YHWH, where the ark of God was,

3  And so, to prevent the lamp of God from going out, Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

3:4  that YHWH called Samuel; and he said: 'Here am I.'

4  And the Lord called, Samuel, Samuel; and he said, Behold, here am I.

3:5  And he ran unto Eli, and said: 'Here am I; for thou didst call me.' And he said: 'I called not; lie down again.' And he went and lay down.

5  And he ran to Heli, and said, Here am I, for thou didst call me: and he said, I did not call thee; return, go to sleep; and he returned and went to sleep.

5  And he ran to Eli, and he said, “Here I am. For you called me.” And he said: “I did not call. Return and sleep.” And he went away, and he slept.

3:6  And YHWH called yet again Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said: 'Here am I; for thou didst call me.' And he answered: 'I called not, my son; lie down again.'

6  And the Lord called again, Samuel, Samuel: and he went to Heli the second time, and said, Behold here am I, for thou didst call me: and he said, I called thee not; return, go to sleep.

6  And again, the Lord continued to call to Samuel. And rising up, Samuel went to Eli, and he said: “Here I am. For you called me.” And he responded: “I did not call you, my son. Return and sleep.”

3:7  Now Samuel did not yet know YHWH, neither was the word of the YHWH yet revealed unto him.

7  And it was before Samuel knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed to him.

3:8  And YHWH called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said: 'Here am I; for thou didst call me.' And Eli perceived that the YHWH was calling the child.

8  And the Lord called Samuel again for the third time: and he arose and went to Heli, and said, Behold, I am here, for thou didst call me: and Heli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

8  And the Lord continued, and he called to Samuel still a third time. And rising up, he went to Eli.

3:9  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel: 'Go, lie down; and it shall be, if thou be called, that thou shalt say: Speak, YHWH; for Thy servant heareth.' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

9  And he said, Return, child, go to sleep; and it shall come to pass if he shall call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak for thy servant hears: and Samuel went and lay down in his place.

9  And he said: “Here I am. For you called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord had called the boy. And he said to Samuel: “Go and sleep. And if he calls to you from now on, you will say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” Therefore, Samuel went away, and he slept in his place.

3:10  And YHWH came, and stood, and called as at other times: 'Samuel, Samuel.' Then Samuel said: 'Speak; for Thy servant heareth.'

10  And the Lord came, and stood, and called him as before: and Samuel said, Speak, for thy servant hears.

3:11  And YHWH said to Samuel: 'Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

11  And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I execute my words in Israel; whoever hears them, both his ears shall tingle.

3:12  In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even unto the end.

12  In that day I will raise up against Heli all things that I have said against his house; I will begin, and I will make an end.

3:13  For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity, in that he knew that his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he rebuked them not.

13  And I have told him that I will be avenged on his house perpetually for the iniquities of his sons, because his sons spoke evil against God, and he did not admonish them.

13  And I will show him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knew when his sons reviled the people and he did not rebuke them.

3:14  And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering for ever.'

14  For this reason, I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of his house will not be expiated, with victims or with gifts, even forever.”

3:15  And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of YHWH. And Samuel feared to tell Eli the vision.

15  And Samuel slept till morning, and rose early in the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord; and Samuel feared to tell Heli the vision.

15  Then Samuel slept until morning, and he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.

3:16  Then Eli called Samuel, and said: 'Samuel, my son.' And he said: 'Here am I.'

16  And Heli said to Samuel, Samuel, my son; and he said, Behold, here am I.

3:17  And he said: 'What is the thing that He hath spoken unto thee? I pray thee, hide it not from me, God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that He spoke unto thee.'

17  And he questioned him: “What is the word that the Lord has spoken to you? I beg you that you may not conceal it from me. May God do these things to you, and may he add these other things, if you hide from me one word out of all the things that were told to you.”

17  And he said to him, What is the thing that the LORD has said to you? Do not be afraid of me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that the LORD said to you.

3:18  And Samuel told him all the words, and hid nothing from him. And he said: 'It is YHWH; let Him do what seemeth Him good.'

18  And Samuel reported all the words, and hid them not from him. And Heli said, He is the Lord, he shall do that which is good in his sight.

18  And so, Samuel revealed to him all the words, and he did not hide them from him. And he responded: “He is the Lord. May he do what is good in his own eyes.”

3:19  And Samuel grew, and YHWH was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

3:20  And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of YHWH.

20  And all of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, knew Samuel to be a faithful prophet of the Lord.

3:21  And YHWH appeared again in Shiloh; for the YHWH revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

21  And the Lord manifested himself again in Selom, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel; and Samuel was accredited to all Israel as a prophet to the Lord from one end of the land to the other: and Heli was very old, and his sons kept advancing in wickedness, and their way was evil before the Lord.

4:1  And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer; and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

1  And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered themselves together against Israel to war; and Israel went out to meet them and encamped at Abenezer, and the Philistines encamped in Aphec.

1  And it happened that, in those days, the Philistines assembled to fight. And Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle, and he made camp beside the Stone of Assistance. But the Philistines went to Aphek,

4:2  And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel; and when the battle was spread, Israel was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

2  and they positioned their troops against Israel. Then, when the conflict began, Israel turned his back to the Philistines. And they were cut down in that conflict, in various places in the fields, about four thousand men.

4:3  And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said: 'Wherefore hath YHWH smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the YHWH out of Shiloh unto us, that He may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.'

3  And the people came to the camp, and the elders of Israel said, Why has the Lord caused us to fall this day before the Philistines? let us take the ark of our God out of Selom, and let it proceed from the midst of us, and it shall save us from the hand of our enemies.

3  And the people returned to the camp. And those greater by birth of Israel said: “Why has the Lord struck us today before the Philistines? Let us bring to ourselves the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. And let it enter into our midst, so that it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4:4  So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of YHWH of hosts, who sitteth upon the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

4  And the people sent to Selom, and they take thence the ark of the Lord who dwells between the cherubs: and both the sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were with the ark.

4:5  And when the ark of the covenant of YHWH came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang.

5  And it came to pass when the ark of the Lord entered into the camp, that all Israel cried out with a loud voice, and the earth resounded.

4:6  And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said: 'What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?' And they knew that the ark of YHWH was come into the camp.

6  And the Philistines heard the cry, and the Philistines said, What is this great cry in the camp of the Hebrews: and they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.

4:7  And the Philistines were afraid, for they said: 'God is come into the camp.' And they said: 'Woe unto us! for there was not such a thing yesterday and the day before.

7  And the Philistines feared, and said, These are the Gods that are come to them into the camp.

4:8  Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues and in the wilderness.

8  Woe to us, O Lord, deliver us to-day for such a thing has not happened aforetime: woe to us, who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote Egypt with every plague, and in the wilderness.

4:9  Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you; quit yourselves like men, and fight.'

9  Strengthen yourselves and behave yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye may not serve the Hebrews as they have served us, but be ye men and fight with them.

9  “Be strengthened, and be manly, O Philistines! Otherwise, you may serve the Hebrews, as they also have served you. Be strengthened and wage war!”

4:10  And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent; and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

10  And they fought with them; and the men of Israel fall, and they fled every man to his ten; and there was a very great slaughter; and there fell of Israel thirty thousand fighting men.

10  Therefore, the Philistines fought, and Israel was cut down, and each one fled to his own tent. And an exceedingly great slaughter occurred. And thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell.

4:11  And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

4:12  And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

12  Now a man of Benjamin, rushing from the troops, arrived at Shiloh on the same day, with his clothing torn, and with his head sprinkled with dust.

4:13  And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon his seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

13  And he came, an behold, Heli was upon the seat by the gate looking along the way, for his heart was greatly alarmed for the ark of God: and the man entered into the city to bring tidings; and the city cried out.

13  And when he had arrived, Eli was sitting on a seat opposite the way, gazing out. For his heart was fearful on behalf of the ark of God. Then, after this man entered the city, he announced it to the city. And the entire city wailed.

4:14  And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said: 'What meaneth the noise of this tumult?' And the man made haste, and came and told Eli.

14  And Heli heard the sound of the cry, and said, What is the voice of this cry? and the men hasted and went in, and reported to Heli.

14  And Eli heard the sound of the outcry, and he said, “What is this sound, this tumult?” And the man hurried, and he went and announced it to Eli.

4:15  Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, that he could not see.

15  Now Heli was ninety years old, and his eyes were fixed, and he saw not.

4:16  And the man said unto Eli: 'I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out of the army.' And he said: 'How went the matter, my son?'

16  And Heli said to them that stood round about him, What is the voice of this sound? And the man hasted and advanced to Heli, and said to him, I am he that is come out of the camp, and I have fled from the battle to-day: and Heli said, What is the event, my son?

16  And he said to Eli: “I am the one who came from the battle. And it is I who fled from the troops today.” And he said to him, “What has happened, my son?”

4:17  And he that brought the tidings answered and said: 'Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.'

4:18  And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

18  And when he had named the ark of God, he fell from the seat backwards, toward the door, and, having broken his neck, he died. For he was an old man of great age. And he judged Israel for forty years.

4:19  And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered; and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth; for her pains came suddenly upon her.

4:20  And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her: 'Fear not; for thou hast brought forth a son.' But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

20  And in her time she was at the point of death; and the women that stood by her, said to her, Fear not, for thou hast born a son: but she answered not, and her heart did not regard it.

20  Then, when she was near death, those who were standing around her said to her, “You should not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond to them, and she did not notice them.

4:21  And she named the child Ichabod, saying: 'The glory is departed from Israel'; because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

21  And she called the child Uaebarchaboth, because of the ark of God, and because of her father-in-law, and because of her husband.

4:22  And she said: 'The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.'

22  And they said, The glory of Israel is departed, forasmuch as the ark of the Lord is taken.

22  And she said, “The glory has been taken away from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured.

5:1  Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.

1  And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Abenezer to Azotus.

1  Then the Philistines took the ark of God, and they transported it from the Stone of Assistance into Ashdod.

5:2  And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

5:3  And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of YHWH. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

3  And the people of Azotus rose early, and entered into the house of Dagon; and looked, and behold, Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of the Lord: and they lifted up Dagon, and set him in his place. And the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Azotians, and he plagued them, and he smote them in their secret parts, Azotus and her coasts.

3  And when the Ashdodites had risen up at first light on the next day, behold, Dagon was lying prone on the ground before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and they set him again in his place.

5:4  And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of YHWH; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands lay cut off upon the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.

4  And it came to pass when they rose early in the morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off each before the threshold, and both the wrists of his hands had fallen on the floor of the porch; only the stump of Dagon was left.

4  And again, on the next day, rising up in the morning, they found Dagon lying on his face upon the ground, before the ark of the Lord. But the head of Dagon, and both palms of his hands had been cut off upon the threshold.

5:5  Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

5  Therefore the priests of Dagon, and every one that enters into the house of Dagon, do not tread upon the threshold of the house of Dagon in Azotus until this day, for they step over.

5  Moreover, only the trunk of Dagon remained in its place. For this reason, the priests of Dagon, and all who enter his temple, do not tread upon the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, even to this day.

5:6  But the hand of YHWH was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and He destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the borders thereof.

6  And the hand of the Lord was heavy upon Azotus, and he brought evil upon them, and it burst out upon them into the ships, and mice sprang up in the midst of their country, and there was a great and indiscriminate mortality in the city.

6  Now the hand of the Lord weighed heavily upon the Ashdodites, and he destroyed them. And he struck Ashdod and its borders at the inner part of the buttocks. And in the villages and fields, in the midst of that region, mice rose up and burst forth. And this caused a great tumult unto death in the city.

5:7  And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said: 'The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for His hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.'

7  Then the men of Ashdod, seeing this kind of plague, said: “The ark of the God of Israel shall not remain with us. For his hand is harsh, over us and over Dagon, our god.”

5:8  They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said: 'What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?' And they answered: 'Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath.' And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

8  And they send and gather the lords of the Philistines to them, and say, What shall we do to the ark of the God of Israel? and the Gittites say, Let the ark of God come over to us; and the ark of the God of Israel came to Geth.

8  And sending, they gathered together all the princes of the Philistines to them, and they said, “What shall we do about the ark of the God of Israel?” And the Gathites responded, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be led around.” And they led the ark of the God of Israel around.

5:9  And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of YHWH was against the city with a very great discomfiture; and He smote the men of the city, both small and great, and emerods broke out upon them.

9  And it came to pass after it went about to Geth, that the hand of the Lord comes upon the city, a very great confusion; and he smote the men of the city small and great, and smote them in their secret parts: and the Gittites made to themselves images of emerods.

9  And as they were carrying it around, the hand of the Lord fell upon every single city with an exceedingly great slaughter. And he struck down the men of each and every city, from the small even to the great. And cysts were festering at their buttocks. And the Gathites took counsel, and they made for themselves seat covers from pelts.

5:10  So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying: 'They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.'

10  And they send away the ark of God to Ascalon; and it came to pass when the ark of God went into Ascalon, that the men of Ascalon cried out, saying, Why have ye brought back the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people?

10  Therefore, they sent the ark of God into Ekron. And when the ark of God had arrived at Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, so that it may kill us and our people!”

5:11  They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said: 'Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, that it slay us not, and our people'; for there was a deadly discomfiture throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

11  And they send and gather the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it lodge in its place; and let it not slay us and our people.

11  And so they sent and gathered together all the princes of the Philistines, and they said: “Release the ark of the God of Israel, and return it to its own place. And let it not kill us, with our people.”

5:12  And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

12  For there was a very great confusion in all the city, when the ark of the God of Israel entered there; and those, who lived and died not were smitten with emerods; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

12  For the fear of death fell upon every single city, and the hand of God was very heavy. Also, the men who did not die were being afflicted in the inner part of the buttocks. And the wailing of each city was ascending to heaven.