1 Samuel 1:1-18

1There was a man whose name was Elkanah. He lived in a town called Ramah. This town was in the hill country where Ephraim's tribe lived. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Elihu. Elihu was the son of Tohu. Tohu was the son of Zuph. Zuph belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.

2Elkanah had two wives. One wife was called Hannah and the other wife was called Peninnah. Peninnah had children but Hannah did not have any children.

3Every year, Elkanah left his home in Ramah to go to the town of Shiloh. He went there to worship the Lord Almighty and to offer sacrifices to him. Hophni and Phinehas served the Lord at Shiloh as his priests. Eli was their father.

4Every year, when Elkanah offered his sacrifices to God, he gave some of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to her sons and daughters.

5Because Elkanah loved Hannah very much, he always gave twice as much meat to her. But the Lord had not let Hannah give birth to any children.

6Peninnah was not kind to Hannah and she made Hannah very upset. She did this because the Lord had not let Hannah give birth to any children.

7This happened every year when they went to the Lord's house in Shiloh. Peninnah would cause Hannah to be upset. Then Hannah would weep. She would refuse to eat anything.

8Hannah's husband, Elkanah, said to her, ‘Why should you weep and refuse to eat? Do not be so sad. I love you, and that is better than ten sons.’

9One day they had offered sacrifices at Shiloh. They had finished eating and drinking. Hannah stood up to pray to God. Eli the priest was sitting on his chair beside the door of the Lord's temple.

10Hannah was very upset as she prayed to the Lord. She could not stop weeping.

11She made a promise to God. She prayed, ‘Lord Almighty, you can see how sad I am. Please be kind to me, your servant. Remember me and do not forget me. Please give a son to me, your servant. If you do that, I will give him to serve you for all of his life. Nobody will ever cut his hair.’

12Hannah continued to pray to the Lord. Eli watched her mouth while it moved.

13Hannah was praying quietly inside herself. Her lips moved but Eli could not hear her voice. So he thought that she was drunk.

14He said to her, ‘Are you always drunk like that? Throw away your wine.’

15Hannah replied, ‘No, sir, I have not drunk any wine or strong drink. I have much trouble deep inside myself. I have told the Lord about all my problems.

16Please sir, do not think that I am a bad woman. I am praying like this because I am very sad and upset.’

17Eli said to Hannah, ‘Go and let your mind have peace. I pray that Israel's God will give you what you have asked him for.’

18Hannah said to him, ‘I will try to do what pleases you, sir.’ Then Hannah went away and she ate some food. Her face was not sad now.