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.’ ”