1 Samuel 1

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:

Once upon a time, in the mountainous region of Ephraim, lived a man named Elkanah. He hailed from Ramathaimzophim, a lineage tracing back to Zuph, through Tohu, Elihu, and Jeroham. Elkanah was an Ephrathite, proud and true.

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.

He was married to two women, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah was blessed with children, but Hannah, heartbreakingly, remained childless.

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.

Every year, this devoted man would leave his hometown to honor and offer sacrifices to the Lord in Shiloh. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests of the Lord, were always present.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

When it was time for Elkanah to make his offering, he lovingly provided for his wife Peninnah and all their children, sharing his blessings with them.

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

He gifted Hannah generously, for his love for her was deep. Yet, her ability to bear children was withheld by the Lord.

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

Her rival tormented her relentlessly, trying to upset her because the Lord had closed 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.

Every year, as she visited the Lord's house, she was tormented. This made her cry and lose her appetite.

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?

Elkanah, her husband, tenderly asked Hannah, "Why are you crying, my love? Why aren't you eating? What's causing your heart such sorrow? Don't you know that my love for you is greater than the joy of having 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.

After their meal in Shiloh, Hannah stood up, her heart heavy. Eli, the priest, sat quietly by the temple's pillar, his presence a comforting symbol of the Lord's presence.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

She was deeply heartbroken, crying out to God in her sorrow and shedding many tears.

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.

In a heartfelt promise, she pleaded, "Dear God, if you truly see my suffering and remember me, if you bless me with a son, I promise to dedicate him to you for his entire life, and his hair will never be cut."

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

As she poured out her heart in prayer to the Lord, Eli noticed the movement of her lips.

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

Hannah prayed silently, her lips moving but no sound escaping. Eli, misunderstanding, assumed she was intoxicated.

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

Eli asked her, "How long will you drown in drink? Let go of your wine."

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.

Hannah responded with a heavy heart, "No, sir, I'm a woman burdened with sadness. I haven't touched wine or any strong drink. Instead, I've bared my soul to 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.

Don't see me as a wicked woman. My words have been fueled by my deep sorrow and distress.

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

Eli responded, "Go in peace. May the God of Israel fulfill your heartfelt request that you've made to 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.

She pleaded, "May I find favor in your eyes." Then, the woman left, ate, and her sadness lifted.

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.

They woke up at dawn, filled with reverence, and prayed to the Lord. Then, they journeyed back to their home in Ramah. Elkanah embraced his wife Hannah, and the Lord, in His kindness, did not forget 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.

When the time was right, after Hannah had become pregnant, she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, joyfully declaring, "For he is the one I asked for from the Lord."

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

Elkanah, along with his entire family, faithfully journeyed to present their annual offering to the LORD, fulfilling his heartfelt promise.

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.

Hannah chose not to go; she told her husband, "I won't go up until our child is weaned. Then, I'll bring him to meet the Lord, where he'll stay forever."

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.

Elkanah, her husband, gently told her, "Do what you feel is right. Stay until you've finished nursing him, but let God's will be done." So, she stayed, lovingly nursing her son until he was weaned.

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.

After she had finished nursing him, she lovingly gathered her young son, along with three strong oxen, a sack of flour, and a flask of wine. She then journeyed to the Lord's house in Shiloh, her heart filled with hope and faith. The boy, still so innocent and young, was with her.

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

With heavy hearts, they sacrificed a bull, then gently led the innocent 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.

She exclaimed, "My dear lord, as sure as you live, I am that woman who stood beside you, praying fervently to God."

For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

I prayed earnestly for this child, and God, in His kindness, granted my heartfelt request.

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.

So, I've given him to God for his entire life; he's God's as long as he lives. And right there, he showed his deep reverence for God.