Old Testament

New Testament

1 Samuel 1:5-16 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

5. But he would give two shares of meat to Hannah. That's because he loved her. He also gave her two shares because the Lord had kept her from having children.

6. Peninnah teased Hannah to make her angry. She did it because the Lord had kept Hannah from having children.

7. Peninnah teased Hannah year after year. Every time Hannah would go up to the house of the Lord, Elkanah's other wife would tease her. She would keep doing it until Hannah cried and wouldn't eat.

8. Her husband Elkanah would speak to her. He would say, "Hannah, why are you crying? Why don't you eat? Why are you so angry and unhappy? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"

9. One time when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord's house.

10. Hannah was very bitter. She sobbed and sobbed. She prayed to the Lord.

11. She made a promise to him. She said, "Lord, you rule over all. Please see how I'm suffering! Show concern for me! Don't forget about me! Please give me a son! If you do, I'll give him back to you. Then he will serve you all the days of his life. He'll never use a razor on his head. He'll never cut his hair."

12. As Hannah kept on praying to the Lord, Eli watched her lips.

13. She was praying in her heart. Her lips were moving. But she wasn't making a sound. Eli thought Hannah was drunk.

14. He said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."

15. "That's not true, sir," Hannah replied. "I'm a woman who is deeply troubled. I haven't been drinking wine or beer. I was telling the Lord all of my troubles.

16. Don't think of me as an evil woman. I've been praying here because I'm very sad. My pain is so great."

Read complete chapter 1 Samuel 1