⁹ After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord.^[a] Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.^{(A) 10} She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. ¹¹ She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants,^[b] and no razor shall touch his head.”^(B)

¹² As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk.^{(C) 14} So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.”^{(D) 15} But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.^{(E) 16} Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” ¹⁷ Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.”^{(F) 18} And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went her way and ate and drank with her husband,^[c] and her countenance was sad no longer.^[d](G)