1 Samuel 1:12-19

The Voice

¹²As she prayed silently before the Eternal One, the priest Eli watched her mouth: ¹³Hannah’s lips were moving, but since she was praying silently, he could not hear her words. So Eli thought she was drunk.

Eli: ¹⁴How long are you going to continue drinking, making a spectacle of yourself? Stop drinking wine, and sober up!

Hannah: ¹⁵My lord, I am not drunk on wine or any strong drink; I am just a woman with a wounded spirit. I have been pouring out the pain in my soul before the Eternal One. ¹⁶Please don’t consider your servant some worthless woman just because I have been speaking for so long out of worry and exasperation.

Eli: ¹⁷Go, don’t worry about this anymore, and may the True God of Israel fulfill the petition you have made to Him.

Hannah: ¹⁸May your servant be favored in your sight.

Then Hannah rose and went back to where she was staying. The sadness lifted from her, so she was able to eat.

¹⁹The next morning, they rose early to worship the Eternal One. Then they went back to their home at Ramah, and Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife. The Eternal remembered her petition;

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