1 Samuel

Tells about Samuel, the last judge, and the beginning of Israel's monarchy with King Saul and young David.

Chapter 1

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

*Now there was a man from Ramathaimzophim, in Mount Ephraim, named Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham, who was the son of Elihu, who was the son of Tohu, who was the son of Zuph, and he belonged to the tribe of Ephrathites.

2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

*He had two wives. One was named Hannah, and the other was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not have any children.

3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

*This man left his city every year to worship and offer sacrifices to God at Shiloh. At the same time, Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests, were also there.

4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

*When it was time for Elkanah to offer a sacrifice, he gave portions to Peninnah, his wife, and to all their children.

5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

*But Hannah received special favor; he really liked her, but God prevented her from having children.

6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

*And her enemy annoyed her greatly, trying to upset her since the LORD had closed her womb.

7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

*Each year, as she went to the Lord's house, she made it worse, causing her pain and sadness, so she cried and didn't eat.

8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

*Then Elkanah, her husband, asked Hannah, "Why are you crying? Why aren't you eating? What's making your heart sad? Aren't I better to you than having ten sons?"

9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

*After eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up, while Eli, the priest, sat on a bench near the temple's door.

10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

*She felt very sad inside and cried a lot while praying to God for help.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

*She made a promise and said, "Dear God, if you truly watch over my suffering and remember me, and don't forget about me, but give me a son, then I will dedicate him to you for his entire life, and he will never cut his hair."

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

*Then, while she kept praying to God, Eli noticed her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

*Now, Hannah prayed silently in her heart. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. This made Eli think she was drunk.

14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

*Eli asked her, "Why are you acting so drunk? Stop drinking wine."

15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

*Hannah replied, "No, sir, I'm a sad woman. I haven't had any alcohol or strong drinks. Instead, I've shared my feelings with God."

16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

*Do not consider me as a daughter of Belial; for from the overflow of my complaints and sorrow, I have spoken this far.

17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

*Then Eli replied, "Go in peace. May the God of Israel grant your request, which you asked from him."

18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

*She asked, "Please see me as favorable." Then the woman left, ate, and her expression was no longer sad.

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

*In the morning, they got up early, prayed to God, then went back home to Ramah. Elkanah, Hannah's husband, was intimate with her, and God remembered her.

20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

*So when the time was right after Hannah became pregnant, she gave birth to a son and named him Samuel, because she had asked for him from the Lord.

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

*Elkanah and his family went to give a yearly offering to God and fulfill his promise.

22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

*But Hannah didn't go with her husband; she told him, "I won't go until our child can drink milk without needing me. Then I'll take him to meet God, and he will stay with Him forever."

23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

*Elkanah, her husband, told her to do what she thought was best. He said to wait until she weaned their child. He also wanted the LORD to make His promise true. So, the woman stayed and breastfed her son until he no longer needed it.

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

*After feeding him enough milk, his mother took him, along with three cows, a measure of flour, a bottle of wine, and went to the LORD's house in a place called Shiloh. The little boy was very young.

25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

*They killed a cow and took the child to Eli.

26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

*She said, "My lord, I swear, I'm the woman who stood here with you, praying to God."

27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

*I prayed for this child, and the Lord answered my prayer by giving me what I asked for.

28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

*So, I let him belong to God, and he will stay with God as long as he lives. He also showed his respect to God at that place.

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