The Birth of Samuel

19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before Yahweh ⌊and returned⌋[fn] to their house at Ramah. Then Elkanah ⌊had sexual relations with⌋[fn] Hannah his wife, and Yahweh remembered her. 20 ⌊In due time⌋,[fn] Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She called his name Samuel, for she said, “I requested him from Yahweh.”

21 So the man Elkanah went up with all his household ⌊to make the annual sacrifice⌋[fn] to Yahweh and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Once the boy is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear before Yahweh; and he will remain there forever.” 23 So her husband Elkanah said to her, “⌊Do what seems right to you⌋;[fn] stay until you wean him. Only may Yahweh fulfill his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 Then she brought him up with her when she had weaned him, along with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin[fn] of wine. She brought him to the house of Yahweh at Shiloh while the boy was still young. 25 They slaughtered the bull, and they brought the boy to Eli. 26 She said, “Excuse me, my lord. As ⌊you live⌋,[fn] my lord, I am the woman who stood with you in this place to pray to Yahweh. 27 I prayed for this boy, and Yahweh has given me my request that I asked from him. 28 I in turn have lent him to Yahweh. ⌊As long as he lives⌋[fn] he is lent to Yahweh.” Then they worshiped Yahweh there.

2 Then Hannah prayed and said,

• “My heart exults in Yahweh, my strength is exalted in Yahweh; I grin[fn] over my enemies, for I rejoice over your salvation.
  • 2 There is no one holy like Yahweh, for there is no one besides you, and there is no rock like our God.
  • 3 Do not increase speaking very proud[fn] words! Let no arrogance go forth from your mouth,
  • for Yahweh is a God of knowledge
  • whose deeds are not weighed.[fn]
  • 4 The bows of mighty warriors are shattered, but those who stumble gird themselves with strength.
  • 5 Those who were full must hire themselves out for bread, but those who are hungry will become fat.
• As for the infertile, she will bear seven,
  • but she who has many sons withers away.
  • 6 Yahweh kills and restores alive, he brings down to Sheol[fn] and raises up.
  • 7 Yahweh makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and also exalts.
  • 8 He raises up the poor from the dust. From the ash heap he lifts up the needy,
• to cause them to sit with noble people
  • and to cause them to inherit a seat of honor.
• For the pillars of the earth belong to Yahweh
  • and he has set the inhabited world on them.
  • 9 He will guard the feet of his faithful[fn] ones, but the wicked will be destroyed[fn] in the darkness,
  • because a man will not prevail by his might.
  • 10 Yahweh will shatter[fn] his adversaries;[fn] he will thunder against them in the heavens.
  • Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth.
• He will give strength to his king
  • and will exalt the might of his anointed one.
  
  

11 Then Elkanah went to Ramah, to his house. Now the boy was serving Yahweh ⌊in the presence of⌋[fn] Eli the priest.