[1] Hannah also prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength
is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in
thy salvation. [2] "There is none holy like the LORD, there is none besides
thee; there is no rock like our God. [3] Talk no more so very proudly, let
not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and
by him actions are weighed. [4] The bows of the mighty are broken, but the
feeble gird on strength. [5] Those who were full have hired themselves out
for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has
borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. [6] The LORD kills
and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. [7] The LORD
makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. [8] He raises up
the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them
sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth
are the LORD'S, and on them he has set the world. [9] "He will guard the
feet of his faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for
not by might shall a man prevail. [10] The adversaries of the LORD shall be
broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will
judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt
the power of his anointed." [11] Then Elka'nah went home to Ramah. And the
boy ministered to the LORD, in the presence of Eli the priest. [12] Now the
sons of Eli were worthless men; they had no regard for the LORD. [13] The
custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered
sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling,
with a three-pronged fork in his hand, [14] and he would thrust it into the
pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest
would take for himself. So they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who
came there. [15] Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant
would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the
priest to roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw."
[16] And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then
take as much as you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now; and if
not, I will take it by force." [17] Thus the sin of the young men was very
great in the sight of the LORD; for the men treated the offering of the
LORD with contempt. [18] Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy
girded with a linen ephod. [19] And his mother used to make for him a
little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband
to offer the yearly sacrifice. [20] Then Eli would bless Elka'nah and his
wife, and say, "The LORD give you children by this woman for the loan which
she lent to the LORD"; so then they would return to their home. [21] And
the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two
daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD. [22] Now
Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel,
and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of
meeting. [23] And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear
of your evil dealings from all the people. [24] No, my sons; it is no good
report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. [25] If a man
sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the
LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of
their father; for it was the will of the LORD to slay them. [26] Now the
boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and
with men. [27] And there came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, "Thus
the LORD has said, `I revealed myself to the house of your father when they
were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh. [28] And I chose him out of
all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn
incense, to wear an ephod before me; and I gave to the house of your father
all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. [29] Why then look with
greedy eye at my sacrifices and my offerings which I commanded, and honor
your sons above me by fattening yourselves upon the choicest parts of every
offering of my people Israel?' [30] Therefore the LORD the God of Israel
declares: `I promised that your house and the house of your father should
go in and out before me for ever'; but now the LORD declares: `Far be it
from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me
shall be lightly esteemed. [31] Behold, the days are coming, when I will
cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that
there will not be an old man in your house. [32] Then in distress you will
look with envious eye on all the prosperity which shall be bestowed upon
Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house for ever. [33] The
man of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep
out his eyes and grieve his heart; and all the increase of your house shall
die by the sword of men. [34] And this which shall befall your two sons,
Hophni and Phin'ehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on
the same day. [35] And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who
shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind; and I will build
him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed for ever.
[36] And every one who is left in your house shall come to implore him for
a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and shall say, "Put me, I pray you,
in one of the priest's places, that I may eat a morsel of bread."'"
