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 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 garbage pile.(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 man 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.(AA)

11 Elkanah went home to Ramah,(AB) but the boy served the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.(AC)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 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. 1 Samuel 2:9 Lit feet
  3. 1 Samuel 2:10 DSS, LXX read The Lord shatters those who dispute with Him

Hannah’s song

Then Hannah prayed:

My heart rejoices in the Lord.
    My strength[a] rises up in the Lord!
    My mouth mocks my enemies
        because I rejoice in your deliverance.
No one is holy like the Lord
    no, no one except you!
    There is no rock like our God!

Don’t go on and on, talking so proudly,
    spouting arrogance from your mouth,
    because the Lord is the God who knows,
        and he weighs every act.

The bows of mighty warriors are shattered,
    but those who were stumbling now dress themselves in power!
Those who were filled full now sell themselves for bread,
    but the ones who were starving are now fat from food!
    The woman who was barren has birthed seven children,
        but the mother with many sons has lost them all!
The Lord!
    He brings death, gives life,
        takes down to the grave,[b] and raises up!
The Lord!
He makes poor, gives wealth,
    brings low, but also lifts up high!
God raises the poor from the dust,
    lifts up the needy from the garbage pile.
    God sits them with officials,
    gives them the seat of honor!
The pillars of the earth belong to the Lord;
    he set the world on top of them!
God guards the feet of his faithful ones,
    but the wicked die in darkness
        because no one succeeds by strength alone.

10 The Lord!
His enemies are terrified!
        God thunders against them from heaven!
    The Lord!
    He judges the far corners of the earth!

May God give strength to his king
    and raise high the strength of his anointed one.

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the Lord under Eli the priest.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:1 Or my horn; also in 2:10
  2. 1 Samuel 2:6 Heb Sheol