I Samuel 1

vayehi ish ekhad min-haramatayim tsofim mehar efrayim ushemo elqanah ben-yerokham ben-elihu ben-tokhu ven-tsuf efrati

There was a man from Ramathaim of the Zuphites, in the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

velo shete nashim shem akhat khannah veshem hashenit peninnah vayehi lifninnah yeladim ulekhannah en yeladim

He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.

ve'alah ha'ish hahu me'iro miyyamim yamimah lehishtakhavot velizboakh la-Adonai tseva'ot beshiloh vesham shene vene-eli khofni ufinkhas kohanim la-Adonai

This man used to go up from his town every year to worship and to offer sacrifice to GOD of Hosts at Shiloh.—Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of GOD there.

vayehi hayyom vayyizbakh elqanah venatan lifninnah ishto ulekhol-baneha uvenoteha manot

One such day, Elkanah offered a sacrifice. He used to give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;

ulekhannah yitten manah akhat appayim ki et-khannah ahev va-Adonai sagar rakhmah

but to Hannah he would give one portion only—though Hannah was his favorite—for GOD had closed her womb.

vekhi'asattah tsaratah gam-ka'as ba'avur harre'imah ki-sagar Adonai be'ad rakhmah

Moreover, her rival, to make her miserable, would taunt her that GOD had closed her womb.

vekhen ya'aseh shanah veshanah midde alotah bevet Adonai ken takhisennah vattivkeh velo tokhal

This happened year after year: Every time she went up to the House of GOD, the other would taunt her, so that she wept and would not eat.

vayyomer lah elqanah ishah khannah lameh tivki velameh lo tokheli velameh yera levavekh halo anokhi tov lakh me'asarah banim

Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying and why aren’t you eating? Why are you so sad? Am I not more devoted to you than ten sons?”

vattaqom khannah akhare okhlah veshiloh ve'akhare shatoh ve'eli hakkohen yoshev al-hakkisse al-mezuzat hekhal Adonai

After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose.—The priest Eli was sitting on the seat near the doorpost of the temple of GOD.—

vehi marat nafesh vattitpallel al-Adonai uvakhoh tivkeh

In her wretchedness, she prayed to GOD, weeping all the while.

vattiddor neder vattomar Adonai tseva'ot im-ra'oh tireh bo'oni amatekha uzekhartani velo-tishkakh et-amatekha venatattah la'amatekha zera anashim unetattiv la-Adonai kol-yeme khayyayw umorah lo-ya'aleh al-rosho

And she made this vow: “O GOD of Hosts, if You will look upon the suffering of Your maidservant and will remember me and not forget Your maidservant, and if You will grant Your maidservant a child like the others have, I will dedicate it to GOD for all the days of its life; and no razor shall ever touch its head.”

vehayah ki hirbetah lehitpallel lifne Adonai ve'eli shomer et-piha

As she kept on praying before GOD, Eli watched her mouth.

vekhannah hi medabberet al-libbah raq sefateha na'ot veqolah lo yishamea vayyakhsheveha eli leshikkorah

Now Hannah was praying in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

vayyomer eleha eli ad-matay tishtakkarin hasiri et-yenekh me'alayikh

Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up!”

vatta'an khannah vattomer lo adoni isha qeshat-ruakh anokhi veyayin veshekhar lo shatiti va'eshpokh et-nafshi lifne Adonai

And Hannah replied, “Oh no, my lord! I am a very unhappy woman. I have drunk no wine or other strong drink, but I have been pouring out my heart to GOD.

al-titten et-amatekha lifne bat-beliyya'al ki-merov sikhi vekhasi dibbarti ad-hennah

Do not take your maidservant for a worthless woman; I have only been speaking all this time out of my great anguish and distress.”

vayya'an eli vayyomer lekhi leshalom velohe yisra'el yitten et-shelatekh asher sha'alt me'immo

“Then go in peace,” said Eli, “and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked.”

vattomer timtsa shifkhatekha khen be'enekha vattelekh ha'isha ledarkah vattokhal ufaneha lo-hayu-lah od

She answered, “You are most kind to your handmaid.” So the woman left, and she ate, and was no longer downcast.

vayyashkimu vabboqer vayyishtakhavu lifne Adonai vayyashuvu vayyavo'u el-betam haramatah vayyeda elqanah et-khannah ishto vayyizkereha Adonai

Early next morning they bowed low before GOD, and they went back home to Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah and GOD remembered her.

vayehi litqufot hayyamim vattahar khannah vatteled ben vattiqra et-shemo shemu'el ki me-Adonai she'iltiv

Hannah conceived, and at the turn of the year bore a son. She named him Samuel, meaning, “I asked GOD for him.”

vayya'al ha'ish elqanah vekhol-beto lizboakh la-Adonai et-zevakh hayyamim ve'et-nidro

And when this man Elkanah and all his household were going up to offer to GOD the annual sacrifice and his votive sacrifice,

vekhannah lo alatah ki-amerah le'ishah ad yiggamel hanna'ar vahavi'otiv venirah et-pene Adonai veyashav sham ad-olam

Hannah did not go up. She said to her husband, “When the child is weaned, I will bring him. For when he has appeared before GOD, he must remain there for good.”

vayyomer lah elqanah ishah asi hattov be'enayikh shevi ad-gomlekh oto akh yaqem Adonai et-devaro vatteshev ha'isha vatteneq et-benah ad-gomlah oto

Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do as you think best. Stay home until you have weaned him. May GOD’s word be fulfilled.” So the woman stayed home and nursed her son until she weaned him.

vatta'alehu immah ka'asher gemalattu befarim sheloshah ve'efah akhat qemakh venevel yayin vattevi'ehu vet-Adonai shilo vehanna'ar na'ar

When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a jar of wine. And though the boy was still very young, she brought him to the House of GOD at Shiloh.

vayyishkhatu et-happar vayyavi'u et-hanna'ar el-eli

After slaughtering the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.

vattomer bi adoni khe nafshekha adoni ani ha'isha hannitsevet immekhah bazeh lehitpallel el-Adonai

She said, “Please, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you and prayed to GOD.

el-hanna'ar hazzeh hitpallaleti vayyitten Adonai li et-she'elati asher sha'alti me'immo

It was this boy I prayed for; and GOD has granted me what I asked.

vegam anokhi hishiltihu la-Adonai kol-hayyamim asher hayah hu sha'ul la-Adonai vayyishtakhu sham la-Adonai

I, in turn, hereby lend him to GOD. For as long as he lives he is lent to GOD.” And they bowed low there before GOD.