Then Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of (A)the [a]temple of the Lord. 10 She, [b]greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she (B)made a vow and said, “Lord of armies, if You will indeed (C)look on the affliction of Your bond-servant and remember me, and not forget Your bond-servant, but will give Your bond-servant a [c]son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and (D)a razor shall never come on his head.”

12 Now it came about, as she [d]continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, (E)she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were quivering, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought that she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, “(F)How long will you behave like a drunk? Get rid of your wine!” 15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman [e]despairing in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I (G)have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not [f]consider your bond-servant a useless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “(H)Go in peace; and may the God of Israel (I)grant your request that you have asked of Him.” 18 She said, “(J)Let your bond-servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and (K)her face was no longer sad.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:9 I.e., tabernacle
  2. 1 Samuel 1:10 Lit bitter of soul
  3. 1 Samuel 1:11 Lit seed of men
  4. 1 Samuel 1:12 Lit multiplied
  5. 1 Samuel 1:15 Lit hard
  6. 1 Samuel 1:16 Lit give

One time, after eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up and presented herself before the Lord.[a] (Now Eli the priest was sitting in the chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple.) 10 Hannah was very upset and couldn’t stop crying as she prayed to the Lord. 11 Then she made this promise: “Lord of heavenly forces, just look at your servant’s pain and remember me! Don’t forget your servant! Give her a boy! Then I’ll give him to the Lord for his entire life. No razor will ever touch his head.”

12 As she kept praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah was praying in her heart; her lips were moving, but her voice was silent, so Eli thought she was drunk.

14 “How long will you act like a drunk? Sober up!” Eli told her.

15 “No sir!” Hannah replied. “I’m just a very sad woman. I haven’t had any wine or beer but have been pouring out my heart to the Lord. 16 Don’t think your servant is some good-for-nothing woman. This whole time I’ve been praying out of my great worry and trouble!”

17 Eli responded, “Then go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you’ve asked from him.”

18 “Please think well of me, your servant,” Hannah said. Then the woman went on her way, ate some food, and wasn’t sad any longer.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:9 LXX; MT lacks presented herself before the Lord.
  2. 1 Samuel 1:18 LXX; MT lacks sad.