1 Samuel 1:7-20

English Standard Version

⁷ So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. ⁸ And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? ^(A)Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

⁹ After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of ^(B)the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ She was ^(C)deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. ¹¹ And she ^(D)vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed ^(E)look on the affliction of your servant and ^(F)remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, ^(G)and no razor shall touch his head.”

¹² As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. ¹⁴ And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” ¹⁵ But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but ^(H)I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not regard your servant as ^(I)a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” ¹⁷ Then Eli answered, ^(J)“Go in peace, and the God of Israel ^(K)grant your petition that you have made to him.” ¹⁸ And she said, ^(L)“Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman ^(M)went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

¹⁹ They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at ^(N)Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord ^(O)remembered her. ²⁰ And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”^[a]