The Bible, King James version, Book 9: 1 Samuel
Book 09 1 Samuel
09:001:001 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
09:001:002 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
09:001:003 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
09:001:004 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
09:001:005 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
09:001:006 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
09:001:007 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
09:001:008 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
09:001:009 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
09:001:010 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
09:001:011 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
09:001:012 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
09:001:013 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
09:001:014 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
09:001:015 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
09:001:016 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
09:001:017 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
09:001:018 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
09:001:019 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
09:001:020 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
09:001:021 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
09:001:022 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
09:001:023 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
09:001:024 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
09:001:025 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
09:001:026 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
09:001:027 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
09:001:028 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
09:002:001 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
09:002:002 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
09:002:003 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
09:002:004 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
09:002:005 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
09:002:006 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
09:002:007 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
09:002:008 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.
09:002:009 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
09:002:010 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
09:002:011 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
09:002:012 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
09:002:013 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
09:002:014 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
09:002:015 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
09:002:016 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
09:002:017 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
09:002:018 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
09:002:019 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
09:002:020 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
09:002:021 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
09:002:022 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women