1. Now there was a certain man of Ramatayim Tzophim, of the hill country of Ephrayim, and his name was Elkanah ben Yerocham ben Elihu ben Tochu ben Tzuph, from Ephrat;
2. And he had two wives; the name of the one was Channah, and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Channah had no children.
3. And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto Hashem Tzva'os in Shiloh. And the two banim of Eli, Chophni and Pinchas, the kohanim of Hashem, were there.
4. And when the time was that Elkanah offered sacrifice, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her banim and her banot, portions;
5. But unto Channah he gave a double portion; for he loved Channah; but Hashem had shut up her womb.
6. And her tzarah (adversary) also provoked her greatly, for to make her fret, because Hashem had shut up her womb.
7. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the Bais Hashem, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8. Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Channah, why weepest thou? And why eatest thou not? And why is thy lev bitter? Am not I better to thee than asarah banim?
9. So Channah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli HaKohen sat upon a chair by mezuzat Heikhal Hashem.
10. And she was in bitterness of nefesh, and davened unto Hashem, and wept greatly.
11. And she vowed a neder (vow), and said, O Hashem Tzva'os, if thou wilt indeed look on the misery of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid zera anashim, then I will give him unto Hashem kol yamei of his chayyah, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12. And it came to pass, as she continued davening before Hashem, that Eli observed her mouth.
13. Now Channah, she davened in her lev; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought her to be shikkorah.