1 Samuel 2

And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

Hannah prayed passionately, expressing, "My heart is filled with joy because of the Lord. I feel strong and uplifted in His presence. I can confidently speak against my foes, for I find immense happiness in His salvation."

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

No one is as pure and sacred as the Lord. There's no one else like Him; He is our unshakeable foundation.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Stop boasting and being arrogant; God knows everything and judges our actions.

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

The strong have lost their power, while the weak have found unexpected strength.

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

Those who once had plenty now work for food; those who were starving are now satisfied. The childless woman now has seven children, while the mother of many grows weak.

The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

God puts to death and gives life; He brings people down to the grave, and He raises them up again.

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

God has the power to humble us or bless us with wealth; He can bring us down, yet also raise us high.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.

He lovingly lifts the needy from despair, elevating the downtrodden to stand with nobility, inheriting a glorious destiny. For the earth's foundations are His, and upon them, He has built our world.

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

He will protect his faithful, while those with evil hearts will be muted in the shadows; for no one can succeed by might alone.

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

God's enemies will be shattered; He will roar at them from the heavens. God will fairly judge everyone on earth, empower His chosen leader, and honor His chosen one.

And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

Elkanah returned home to Ramah, his heart heavy yet hopeful. Meanwhile, the young one served the LORD, his innocent devotion evident in the presence of Priest Eli.

Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

Eli's sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord.

And the priest’s custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

The tradition was that when someone made a sacrifice, the priest's assistant would come with a three-pronged fork while the meat was still cooking.

And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

He passionately plunged it into the pan, kettle, or pot; whatever the meat hook lifted, the priest claimed as his own. This was the custom in Shiloh for all visiting Israelites.

Also before they burnt the fat, 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.

Before they even started to burn the fat, the priest's assistant rushed over to the man preparing the sacrifice. "Give some meat for the priest to roast," he demanded, "He doesn't want your boiled meat, he wants it raw."

And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

If anyone told him, "First burn the fat, then take what you want," he'd reply, "No, give it to me now. If you don't, I'll take it by force."

Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

The young men's sins deeply grieved the Lord, for people despised His sacred offerings.

But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

Even as a young boy, Samuel served God faithfully, wearing his simple linen priestly garment.

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

Every year, his mother lovingly crafted a small coat for him, bringing it to him during their annual pilgrimage for the sacred sacrifice, a journey she undertook with her husband.

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

Eli, with a heart full of blessings, wished upon Elkanah and his wife, "May God give you children from this woman in place of the son she gave to Him." With this, they returned to their home, hearts filled with hope.

And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

The Lord was gracious to Hannah, and she conceived. She was blessed with three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel matured under the Lord's watchful eye.

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Eli, now aged and frail, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance of the meeting tent.

And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

He asked them, "Why are you behaving this way? Everyone is talking about your wrongdoings."

Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’s people to transgress.

No, my children, I'm saddened by what I hear. You're leading God's people astray, and it's not right.

If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

If a person wrongs another, a judge can decide the case. But if someone offends God, who can plead on their behalf? Yet, they ignored their father's warnings, for the Lord intended to put them to death.

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

As Samuel matured, he found grace in the eyes of both God and people, his heart resonating with love and respect from all.

And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?

A man of God approached Eli, his voice heavy with divine authority. "The LORD asks," he said, "Didn't I reveal myself clearly to your ancestors when they were in Egypt, under Pharaoh's rule?"

And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

Did I not handpick him from all of Israel's tribes to be my priest, to serve at my altar, to burn incense, to wear the sacred ephod in my presence? And didn't I bless your family with all the offerings the children of Israel made by fire?

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?

Why do you disrespect the sacrifices I've asked for in my home, and prioritize your children over me, indulging in the best offerings from my people, Israel?

Wherefore the LORD 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 LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

The Lord, the God of Israel, once promised that your family and your ancestors would always serve me. But now, God says, "That's not happening anymore. I will respect those who respect me, but those who disrespect me will be disregarded."

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 thine house.

A time will come when I will take away your strength, and the strength of your family line, leaving no elders in your household.

And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

You will witness a foe in my home, amidst all the blessings God bestows upon Israel. No one in your family will ever live to old age.

And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

Any man of yours whom I do not cut off from my altar will wear out your eyes with tears and fill your heart with grief. And all your descendants will die in the prime of life.

And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.

This will be your sign: a tragedy will befall your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. In a single day, they will both meet their end.

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

I will guide a devoted priest to rise, who will act in harmony with my heart and thoughts. I will give him a lasting family line, and he will forever serve before my chosen one.

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

Everyone remaining in your home will humbly approach him, begging for a bit of money and a bite of bread. They'll plead, "Please, let me serve as a priest, just so I can have enough to eat."