Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to 1 Samuel 2
Close CSB

1 Samuel 2
Christian Standard Bible

Hannah’s Triumphant Prayer

2 Hannah prayed:(A)

My heart rejoices in the Lord;(B)
my horn is lifted up by the Lord.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.(C)
2 There is no one holy like the Lord.(D)
There is no one besides you!(E)
And there is no rock like our God.(F)
3 Do not boast so proudly,
or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and actions are weighed by him.(G)
4 The bows of the warriors are broken,(H)
but the feeble are clothed with strength.(I)
5 Those who are full hire themselves out for food,
but those who are starving hunger no more.
The woman who is childless gives birth to seven,(J)
but the woman with many sons pines away.(K)
6 The Lord brings death and gives life;(L)
he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up.(M)
7 The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth;(N)
he humbles and he exalts.(O)
8 He raises the poor from the dust(P)
and lifts the needy from the trash heap.(Q)
He seats them with noblemen(R)
and gives them a throne of honor.[a]
For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;(S)
he has set the world on them.(T)
9 He guards the steps[b] of his faithful ones,(U)
but the wicked perish in darkness,(V)
for a person does not prevail by his own strength.(W)
10 Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered;[c](X)
he will thunder in the heavens against them.(Y)
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.(Z)
He will give power to his king;
he will lift up the horn of his anointed.[d](AA)

11 Elkanah went home to Ramah,(AB) but the boy served the Lord in the presence of the priest Eli.(AC)

Eli’s Family Judged

12 Eli’s sons were wicked men;(AD) they did not respect the Lord(AE) 13 or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling 14 and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot.(AF) The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. 15 Even before the fat was burned,(AG) the priest’s servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.” 16 If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,”(AH) the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” 17 So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because the men treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.(AI)

18 Samuel served in the Lord’s presence(AJ)—this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod.(AK) 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe(AL) and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.(AM) 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife:(AN) “May the Lord give you children by this woman in place of the one she[e] has given to the Lord.”(AO) Then they would go home.

21 The Lord paid attention to Hannah’s need,(AP) and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.(AQ)

22 Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel(AR) and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(AS) 23 He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people. 24 No, my sons, the news I hear the Lord’s people spreading is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” (AT) But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.(AU) 26 By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.(AV)

27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him,(AW) “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family[f] when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?(AX) 28 Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house[g] to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence.(AY) I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite food offerings. 29 Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship?(AZ) You have honored your sons more than me,(BA) by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.’

30 “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever.(BB) But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor,(BC) but those who despise me will be disgraced.(BD) 31 Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age.(BE) 32 You will see distress in the place of worship,(BF) in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.(BG) 33 Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief[h] and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.[i][j] 34 This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas:(BH) both of them will die on the same day.(BI)

35 “‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest(BJ) for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him,(BK) and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.(BL) 36 Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”

Footnotes

  1. 2:8 DSS, LXX add He gives the vow of the one who makes a vow and he blesses the years of the just.
  2. 2:9 Lit feet
  3. 2:10 DSS, LXX read The Lord shatters those who dispute with him
  4. 2:10 Or Messiah
  5. 2:20 DSS; MT reads he
  6. 2:27 Lit the house of your father
  7. 2:28 Lit selected him
  8. 2:33 Lit grief to your eyes
  9. 2:33 DSS, LXX read die by the sword of men
  10. 2:33 Lit die men
Close ISV

1 Samuel 2
International Standard Version

Hannah’s Thanksgiving Psalm

2 Then Hannah prayed:

“My heart exults in the Lord;
    my strength[a] is increased by the Lord.
I will open my mouth to speak[b] against my enemies,
    because I rejoice in your deliverance.

2 Indeed,[c] there is no one holy like the Lord,
    indeed, there is no one besides you,
there is no rock like our God.

3 Don’t continue to talk proudly,
    and don’t speak arrogantly,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
    and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of warriors are shattered,[d]
    but those who stumble are equipped with[e] strength.
5 Those who had an abundance of bread
    now hire themselves out,
and those who were hungry
    hunger no more.[f]
While the barren woman gives birth to seven children,[g]
    she who had many children languishes.

6 The Lord kills and gives life,
    he brings people down to where the dead are[h]
        and he raises them up.
7 The Lord makes people poor
    and he makes people rich,
he brings them low,
    and he also exalts them.
8 He raises the poor up from the dust,
    he lifts up the needy from the trash heap
to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.
Indeed the pillars of the earth belong to the Lord,
    and he has set the world on them.
9 He guards the steps[i] of his faithful ones,
    while the wicked are made silent[j] in darkness.
He grants the request of the one who prays.[k]
    He blesses the year of the righteous.[l]
Indeed it’s not by strength that a person prevails.

10 The Lord will shatter his enemies[m]
    —those who contend against him.
Who is holy?[n]
    The one who will thunder[o] against them in the heavens.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth,
    he will give strength to his king,
        and he will increase the strength of His anointed one.”

11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah, while the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.

Eli’s Wicked Sons

12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men who did not know the Lord. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that whenever a person offered a sacrifice, a servant[p] of the priest would come with a three pronged fork in his hand while the meat was boiling, and[q] 14 he would stick it into the boiler or pot,[r] and take everything[s] the fork brought up—that is, the priest would take it for himself. This is what they were supposed to do with all the Israelis who came there to Shiloh. 15 But even before they burned the fat, the servant of the priest would come and say to the person offering the sacrifice, “Give me meat to roast for the priest. He won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”

16 If the man told him[t], “They must surely[u] burn up the fat first, and then take for yourself whatever[v] you desire,” the servant would say, “No,[w] give it now, and if you don’t,[x] I’ll take it by force!”[y] 17 By doing this, the sin of the young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight because the men[z] despised the Lord’s offering.

Samuel at Shiloh

18 Now Samuel was ministering in the Lord’s presence, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.[aa] 19 His mother would make a small robe for him, and she would bring it each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say,[ab] “May the Lord give[ac] you descendants[ad] from this woman in place of the one she dedicated[ae] to the Lord.” Then they would return to their[af] home.[ag]

21 The Lord took note of Hannah,[ah] and she became pregnant and gave birth to[ai] three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel continued to grow,[aj] and the Lord was constantly[ak] with him.

Judgment against Eli’s Sons

22 Now Eli was very[al] old, and he had heard everything that[am] his sons were doing[an] to the Israelis,[ao] and how they lay with the women who were serving regularly[ap] at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 23 “Why are you doing these things that I’m hearing about?” he asked his sons,[aq] “These reports about your evil deeds are coming from all these[ar] people! 24 No, my sons, I’m not hearing good news being circulated by the Lord’s people. 25 If a person sins[as] against another, God[at] will mediate for him,[au] but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?”

But they would not follow the advice of[av] their father; for the Lord wanted to put them to death. 26 But the boy Samuel continued to grow both physically and in favor with the Lord and the people.

27 A man of God came to Eli, saying to him,[aw] “This is what the Lord says: ‘When they were in Egypt and slaves[ax] to the house of Pharaoh, did I not reveal[ay] to the family of your ancestor Aaron[az] 28 that I had chosen him[ba] out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer up burnt offerings on my altar, burn incense, and carry[bb] the ephod in my presence? And did I not give to your ancestors’ family all the Israeli fire-offerings? 29 Why, then, do all of you show contempt for[bc] my sacrifice and offering that I’ve commanded for my[bd] dwelling? And you honor your sons more than me in order to fatten yourselves[be] from the best of all the offerings of my people Israel.’[bf]

30 “Therefore, the Lord God of Israel has declared, ‘I did, in fact, say[bg] that your family and your ancestor’s family would walk before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares, ‘Far be it from me! The one who honors me I’ll honor, and the one who despises me is to be treated with contempt. 31 The time is coming when I’ll cut away[bh] at your family[bi] and your ancestor’s family[bj] until there are no old men left in your family. 32 Distress will settle down to live in your household, and despite all the good that I do for Israel,[bk] there will never be an old man in your family forever, and you will never again have an old man in my house.[bl] 33 Any of you whom I don’t eliminate from serving at my altar will grow tired from weeping,[bm] and their[bn] souls will grieve. All the increase of your family will die by violence.[bo] 34 Here’s a sign for you—your two sons Hophni and Phineas will both die on the same day! 35 And I’ll raise up for myself a faithful[bp] priest who will do according to what is in my heart and according to my desire. I’ll build for him an enduring[bq] house and he will walk before my anointed one forever. 36 Anyone who remains in your family will come and prostrate themselves before him for a small wage[br] or a loaf of bread and will say,[bs] “Please put me in one of the priest’s offices so I can eat a piece of bread.”’”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:1 Lit. horn; i.e. a symbol of strength and well-being
  2. 1 Samuel 2:1 The Heb. lacks to speak
  3. 1 Samuel 2:2 So 4QSama LXX; MT lacks Indeed
  4. 1 Samuel 2:4 Lit. are shattering; 4QSama reads warriors shatter
  5. 1 Samuel 2:4 Lit. stumble gird on
  6. 1 Samuel 2:5 Lit. cease
  7. 1 Samuel 2:5 The Heb. lacks children
  8. 1 Samuel 2:6 Lit. Sheol; i.e. the realm of the dead
  9. 1 Samuel 2:9 Lit. feet; cf. 4QSama
  10. 1 Samuel 2:9 Or are destroyed
  11. 1 Samuel 2:9 So 4QSama LXX; MT lacks this line
  12. 1 Samuel 2:9 So 4QSama LXX; MT lacks this line
  13. 1 Samuel 2:10 So 4QSama LXX; MT lacks his enemies
  14. 1 Samuel 2:10 So 4QSama; MT lacks this line; LXX reads The Lord is holy
  15. 1 Samuel 2:10 So MT; or He thundered; 4QSama reads And he thundered
  16. 1 Samuel 2:13 Lit. lad
  17. 1 Samuel 2:13 So 4QSama; 4QSama reads and take; MT LXX read when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the meat was boiling with a three-pronged fork in his hand.
  18. 1 Samuel 2:14 So 4QSama; MT reads the pan, kettle, caldron, or pot; LXX reads the caldron, kettle, or pot
  19. 1 Samuel 2:14 So 4QSama; MT LXX read the priest took for himself
  20. 1 Samuel 2:16 So MT; 4QSama reads man answered and told the priest’s servant; LXX reads man who was making the sacrifice told him
  21. 1 Samuel 2:16 So MT; 4QSama reads Let the priest LXX reads Let him
  22. 1 Samuel 2:16 So MT; 4QSama LXX read everything
  23. 1 Samuel 2:16 Lit. Rather
  24. 1 Samuel 2:16 So MT LXX; 4QSama now, or
  25. 1 Samuel 2:16 So MT LXX; 4QSama reads now, or I’ll take the ram by force to give him the meat
  26. 1 Samuel 2:17 So MT; 4QSama LXX read because they
  27. 1 Samuel 2:18 The ephod was a type of vest normally worn by the Levite priests.
  28. 1 Samuel 2:20 So MT; 4QSama reads wife, saying
  29. 1 Samuel 2:20 So MT; 4QSama read Lord repay you by giving
  30. 1 Samuel 2:20 Lit. seed
  31. 1 Samuel 2:20 So LXX and DSS; MT, he dedicated or asked
  32. 1 Samuel 2:20 So MT; 4QSama LXX read his
  33. 1 Samuel 2:20 Lit. place
  34. 1 Samuel 2:21 So MT; 4QSama LXX read Lord visited
  35. 1 Samuel 2:21 So MT; 4QSama LXX read she bore more children—
  36. 1 Samuel 2:21 So MT LXX; 4QSama reads grow there
  37. 1 Samuel 2:21 The Heb. lacks constantly
  38. 1 Samuel 2:22 So MT LXX; 4QSama reads was 98 years
  39. 1 Samuel 2:22 So MT; 4QSama LXX read heard what
  40. 1 Samuel 2:22 So 4QSama; MT reads sons would do
  41. 1 Samuel 2:22 So 4QSama LXX; MT reads to all of Israel
  42. 1 Samuel 2:22 Lit. who had assembled in order
  43. 1 Samuel 2:23 Lit. them
  44. 1 Samuel 2:23 So MT; 4QSama LXX read from the Lord’s
  45. 1 Samuel 2:25 So MT; 4QSama LXX read sins gravely
  46. 1 Samuel 2:25 Or a judge
  47. 1 Samuel 2:25 So MT; 4QSama reads another, he will appeal to the Lord
  48. 1 Samuel 2:25 So MT LXX; 4QSama lacks the advice of
  49. 1 Samuel 2:27 So MT; 4QSama LXX read Eli and said
  50. 1 Samuel 2:27 So LXX and DSS; the Heb. lacks slaves
  51. 1 Samuel 2:27 So MT; 4QSama LXX read Pharaoh, I did indeed
  52. 1 Samuel 2:27 The Heb. lacks Aaron
  53. 1 Samuel 2:28 So MT; 4QSama LXX read chosen your father’s house
  54. 1 Samuel 2:28 So MT; 4QSama LXX read wear
  55. 1 Samuel 2:29 Lit. do you (pl.) tread down; 4QSama LXX read do you (sing) look down on
  56. 1 Samuel 2:29 The Heb. lacks my
  57. 1 Samuel 2:29 So MT; 4QSama reads yourself
  58. 1 Samuel 2:29 So MT; 4QSama LXX read Israel in my presence
  59. 1 Samuel 2:30 So MT LXX; 4QSama reads seek
  60. 1 Samuel 2:31 So MT; 4QSama LXX read away your strength and the strength of your father’s house
  61. 1 Samuel 2:31 Lit. arm
  62. 1 Samuel 2:31 Lit. arm
  63. 1 Samuel 2:32 Or you are to look with envy on all that happens good with Israel, and
  64. 1 Samuel 2:32 So 4QSama LXX; MT reads left in my dwelling. You will look in distress at all the prosperity given to Israel, while there never again will be an old man in your house
  65. 1 Samuel 2:33 The Heb. lacks from weeping
  66. 1 Samuel 2:33 Lit. your
  67. 1 Samuel 2:33 Lit. by the sword; so with LXX and DSS; MT die like men
  68. 1 Samuel 2:35 Or an enduring; MT word translated faithful here is translated enduring later in this verse.
  69. 1 Samuel 2:35 Or faithful; MT word translated enduring here is translated faithful earlier in this verse.
  70. 1 Samuel 2:36 Lit. a payment of silver
  71. 1 Samuel 2:36 So MT; 4QSama LXX read bread, saying
Next
1 Samuel 1
1 Samuel 3
Next
dropdown
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

International Standard Version (ISV)

Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.

ISV Bible