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Hannah’s Prayer

Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;
    my strength is exalted in my God.[a]
My mouth derides my enemies
    because I rejoice in your victory.(A)

There is no Holy One like the Lord,
    no one besides you;
    there is no Rock like our God.(B)
Talk no more so very proudly;
    let not arrogance come from your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
    and by him actions are weighed.(C)
The bows of the mighty are broken,
    but the feeble gird on strength.(D)
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
    but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
    but she who has many children is forlorn.(E)
The Lord kills and brings to life;
    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.(F)
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
    he brings low; he also exalts.(G)
He raises up the poor from the dust;
    he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
    and on them he has set the world.(H)

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
    but the wicked will perish in darkness,
    for not by might does one prevail.(I)
10 The Lord! His adversaries will be shattered;
    the Most High[b] will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
    he will give strength to his king
    and exalt the power of his anointed.”(J)

Eli’s Wicked Sons

11 Then they left him there before the Lord and went[c] home to Ramah, while the boy remained to minister to the Lord in the presence of the priest Eli.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.1 Gk: Heb the Lord
  2. 2.10 Cn: Heb against him he
  3. 2.11 Gk: Heb Then Elkanah went

Hannah’s Triumphant Prayer

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)
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)
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)
The bows of the warriors are broken,(H)
but the feeble are clothed with strength.(I)
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)
The Lord brings death and gives life;(L)
he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up.(M)
The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth;(N)
he humbles and he exalts.(O)
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)
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)

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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