1 Samuel 1:15-26

15“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16Do not take your servant for a wicked woman, for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”

17“Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”

18“May your maidservant find favor with you,” said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she began to eat, and her face was no longer downcast.

19The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah.

And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,1 saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

21Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.”2

23“Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah replied, “and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word.”3

So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

24Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull,4 an ephah of flour,5 and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.

26“Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.