⁹ Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.^{(A) 10} In her deep anguish^(B) Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. ¹¹ And she made a vow,^(C) saying, “Lord Almighty^(D), if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember^(E) me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,^(F) and no razor^(G) will ever be used on his head.”

¹² As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴ and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

¹⁵ “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled.^(H) I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring^(I) out my soul to the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”^(J)

¹⁷ Eli answered, “Go in peace,^(K) and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.^(L)”

¹⁸ She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.^(M)” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.^(N)

¹⁹ Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.^(O) Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered^(P) her. ²⁰ So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.^(Q) She named^(R) him Samuel,^[a](S) saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

The Great Multitude in White Robes

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,^(A) standing before the throne^(B) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes^(C) and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders^(F) and the four living creatures.^(G) They fell down on their faces^(H) before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes^(J)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes^(K) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.^{(L) 15} Therefore,

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers^(A)

⁴⁶ While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother^(B) and brothers^(C) stood outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

⁴⁸ He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven^(D) is my brother and sister and mother.”