1 Samuel 1:3–18

³This man went up from his city ^eyearly ^fto worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in ^gShiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. ⁴And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an ^hoffering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. ⁵But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, ⁱalthough the Lord had closed her womb. ⁶And her rival also ^jprovoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. ⁷So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.

Hannah’s Vow

⁸Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not ^kbetter to you than ten sons?”

⁹So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of ^lthe ³tabernacle of the Lord. ^10mAnd she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and ⁴wept in anguish. ¹¹Then she ⁿmade a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed ^olook on the affliction of Your maidservant and ^premember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and ^qno razor shall come upon his head.”

¹²And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. ¹³Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”

¹⁵But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have ^rpoured out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶Do not consider your maidservant a ^swicked ⁵woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”

¹⁷Then Eli answered and said, ^t“Go in peace, and ^uthe God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”

¹⁸And she said, ^v“Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman ^wwent her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.