⁴ Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice,^(A) he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.^{(B) 5} But to Hannah he gave a double portion^(C) because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.^{(D) 6} Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.^{(E) 7} This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.^{(F) 8} Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?^(G)”

⁹ Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.^{(H) 10} In her deep anguish^(I) Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. ¹¹ And she made a vow,^(J) saying, “Lord Almighty^(K), if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember^(L) me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,^(M) and no razor^(N) will ever be used on his head.”

¹² As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴ and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

¹⁵ “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled.^(O) I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring^(P) out my soul to the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”^(Q)

¹⁷ Eli answered, “Go in peace,^(R) and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.^(S)”

¹⁸ She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.^(T)” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.^(U)

¹⁹ Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.^(V) Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered^(W) her. ²⁰ So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.^(X) She named^(Y) him Samuel,^[a](Z) saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”