1 Samuel 1:9–18

⁹Once 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.^{r 10}In her deep anguish^s Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. ¹¹And she made a vow,^t saying, “Lord Almighty^u, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember^v 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,^w and no razor^x will ever be used on his head.”

¹²As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴and 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.^y I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring^z out my soul to the Lord. ¹⁶Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”^a

¹⁷Eli answered, “Go in peace,^b and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.^c”

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