Det bodde en mann fra Ramatajim-Sofim i Efraims fjellområde. Han het Elkana, og var sønn av Jeroham, sønn av Elihu, sønn av Tohu, sønn av Suf, en efratitt.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, 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:

Han hadde to koner; den ene het Hanna, den andre Peninna. Peninna hadde barn, men Hanna hadde ingen.

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.

Hvert år dro denne mannen opp fra byen sin for å tilbe og ofre til Herren over hærskarene i Sjilo. Der var de to sønnene til Eli, Hofni og Pinhas, prester for Herren.

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.

Når Elkana ofret, ga han hustruen Peninna og alle hennes sønner og døtre deler av offeret.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

Men til Hanna ga han en dobbel del, for han elsket Hanna, selv om Herren hadde gjort henne ufruktbar.

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

Hennes medrival plaget henne hardt for å gjøre henne nedstemt, fordi Herren hadde lukket hennes livmor.

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

Slik gjorde de år etter år; hver gang hun dro opp til Herrens hus, tirret Peninna henne. Derfor gråt Hanna og spiste ikke.

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.

Da sa Elkana, hennes mann, til henne:

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?

Etter at de hadde spist og drukket i Sjilo, reiste Hanna seg. Presten Eli satt på en stol ved dørstolpen til Herrens tempel.

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.

Hanna var dypt ulykkelig og ba til Herren mens hun gråt sårt.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

Hun avla et løfte og sa: 'Herre, hærskarenes Gud, hvis du ser til din tjenestekvinnes nød og husker meg, og ikke glemmer din tjenestekvinne, men gir din tjenestekvinne en sønn, da skal jeg gi ham til Herren alle hans dager, og ingen barberkniv skal komme på hans hode.'

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 rasor come upon his head.

Mens hun fortsatt ba for Herren, la Eli merke til munnen hennes.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

Hanna snakket i sitt hjerte, bare leppene beveget seg, men stemmen hennes hørte man ikke; derfor trodde Eli at hun var beruset.

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

Og Eli sa til henne: 'Hvor lenge vil du fortsette å være beruset? Bli kvitt vinen din.'

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

Men Hanna svarte: 'Nei, min herre, jeg er en kvinne med sorg i hjertet; jeg har verken drukket vin eller sterk drikk, men jeg har øst ut min sjel for Herren.

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.

Regn ikke din tjenestekvinne som en ulydig kvinne, for det er ut av min overflod av sorg og nød at jeg har talt frem til nå.'

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Da svarte Eli og sa: 'Gå i fred, og må Israels Gud gi deg det du har bedt ham om.'

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

Hun sa: 'Må din tjenestekvinne finne nåde i dine øyne.' Så gikk kvinnen sin vei, spiste, og hennes ansikt var ikke lenger trist.

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.

De sto tidlig opp om morgenen og tilba for Herren, og vendte tilbake til sitt hjem i Rama. Elkana lå med Hanna, sin kone, og Herren husket henne.

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.

På den tiden, etter at Hanna hadde blitt gravid, fødte hun en sønn og kalte ham Samuel, som betyr 'hørt av Gud', for hun sa: 'Jeg har bedt ham fra Herren.'

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.

Elkana dro sammen med hele sin husstand opp for å ofre det årlige offeret til Herren og for å oppfylle sitt løfte.

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

Men Hanna gikk ikke opp, for hun sa til sin mann: 'Jeg vil ikke dra før barnet er avvent, og så vil jeg ta ham med, så han kan bli stillt frem for Herren og bli der for alltid.'

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.

Elkana, hennes mann, sa til henne: 'Gjør det som synes best for deg; bli til du har avvent ham. Måtte Herren oppfylle sitt ord.' Så ble kvinnen hjemme og ammet sønnen sin til hun avvent ham.

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.

Da hun hadde avvent ham, tok hun ham med seg, sammen med tre okser, en efa mel og en sekk vin, og brakte ham til Herrens hus i Sjilo. Gutten var enda ung.

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.

De slaktet en okse og førte barnet til Eli.

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

Hun sa: 'Min herre, så sant du lever, min herre, jeg er kvinnen som sto her ved din side og ba til Herren.

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.

For dette barnet ba jeg, og Herren har gitt meg det jeg bad om.

For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Derfor gir jeg ham nå til Herren; så lenge han lever, skal han tilhøre Herren.' Og de tilba Herren der.

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.