5. but to Hannah he would give only one portion—even though he loved Hannah—for Adonai had closed her womb.
6. Her rival would taunt her bitterly to provoke her, because Adonai had closed her womb.
7. So it was year after year, whenever she went up to the House of Adonai, that she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.
8. Then her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9. After eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah got up. Now Eli the kohen was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the Temple of Adonai.
10. While her soul was bitter, she prayed to Adonai and wept.
11. So she made a vow and said, “Adonai-Tzva’ot, if You will indeed look upon the affliction of Your handmaid, remember me and not forget Your handmaid, but grant Your handmaid a son, then I will give him to Adonai all the days of his life and no razor will ever touch his head.”
12. It came to pass, as she prayed long before Adonai, that Eli was watching her mouth.
13. Now Hannah was praying in her heart—only her lips were moving, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.
14. Then Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
15. But in response Hannah said, “No, my lord, I am a woman with an oppressed spirit! I haven’t been drinking wine or beer. Instead I’ve been pouring out my soul before Adonai.
16. Don’t consider your handmaid a wicked woman. For out of my great anguish and grief I’ve been praying until now.”
17. Then Eli responded, “Go in shalom, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you asked of Him.”
18. “May your maidservant find favor in your eyes,” she said. So the woman went her way; she ate, and her countenance was no longer dejected.
19. They rose up early in the morning and worshipped before Adonai, then went back to their home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and Adonai remembered her.