1 Samuel 1:9-18

Evangelical Heritage Version

⁹ Once, when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. ¹⁰ Hannah’s spirit was very distressed, and as she prayed to the Lord, she sobbed and wept many tears. ¹¹ She made a vow and said, “O Lord of Armies, if you will carefully consider the misery of your servant and remember me, and if you do not forget your servant but give your servant a male child,^[a] then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

¹² As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli was looking at her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was speaking silently from her heart. Although her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴ and said to her, “How long are you going to be drunk? Get away from your wine!”

¹⁵ Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman with a very troubled spirit. I have not been drinking wine or beer, but I have poured out my soul to the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not regard your servant as a worthless, wicked woman. I have been speaking like this because of my great misery and because of how I have been grieved.”^[b]

¹⁷ Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel give you what you have asked for.”

¹⁸ She said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way. She ate, and her face no longer looked sad.