1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim named Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. One was named Hannah, and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Year after year this man went up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD there. 4 On the day Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, though the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Her rival would provoke her bitterly to upset her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 He did this year after year. Whenever she went up to the house of the LORD, her rival would provoke her like this, and she would weep and not eat. 8 Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 After eating and drinking at Shiloh, Hannah rose. Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 She was bitter in soul and prayed to the LORD, weeping deeply. 11 She made a vow and said, “LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant, remember me and not forget your servant, and give your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor will come upon his head.” 12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli was watching her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart. Only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, so Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 Hannah answered, “No, my lord. I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking until now out of my great distress and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request you have made of him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD. Then they returned to their home at Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.” 21 The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer the annual sacrifice and his vow to the LORD. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “When the boy is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and stay there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what is good in your eyes. Stay until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls, about twenty quarts of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh, and the boy was still young. 25 They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. 26 She said, “Please, my lord, as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this boy, and the LORD has granted the request I made of him. 28 So I have also given him over to the LORD. All the days he lives, he is given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.