Hannah prays for a son, and vows to give him to the Lord—Eli the priest blesses her—Samuel is born—Hannah loans him to the Lord.

1 - Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim -zophim, 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:

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 yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the L ORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the L ORD, were there.

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

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

6 - And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the L ORD had shut up her womb.

7 - And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the L ORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

8 - 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?

9 - ¶ 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 L ORD.

10 - And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the L ORD, and wept sore.

11 - And she vowed a vow, and said, O L ORD 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 L ORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

12 - And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the L ORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

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

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

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 have poured out my soul before the L ORD.

16 - Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial : for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

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

18 - 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.

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

20 - 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 L ORD.

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

22 - 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 L ORD, and there abide for ever.

23 - And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the L ORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24 - ¶ 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 L ORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

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

26 - And she said, O my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the L ORD.

27 - For this child I prayed; and the L ORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

28 - Therefore also I have lent him to the L ORD ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the L ORD. And he worshipped the L ORD there.