哈娜的禱告
1哈娜禱告說：
「我的心因耶和華而歡喜，
我的力量因耶和華而倍增，
我的口向敵人誇耀，
我因耶和華的拯救而快樂。
2「耶和華聖潔無比，
獨一無二，
沒有磐石像我們的上帝。
3不要再驕橫傲慢、口出狂言，
因為耶和華鑒察萬事，
祂會按著人的行為施行審判。
4勇士的弓被折斷，
軟弱的變為剛強。
5素來豐衣足食的為糊口而當雇工，
本來食不果腹的卻不再挨餓。
不育的婦人現在生了七個孩子，
兒女成群的婦人卻子女盡失。
6耶和華掌管生死，
祂使人進入墳墓，也使人起死回生。
7貧窮富足在於祂，
卑微高貴也在於祂。
8祂從灰塵中提拔窮苦的人，
從糞堆裡擢升貧賤的人，
使他們與王子同坐，
得享尊榮。
大地的根基屬於耶和華，
祂在上面建立了世界。
9祂保護祂的聖民，
使惡人在黑暗中滅亡，
因為得勝不是靠人的勇力。
10跟耶和華對抗的人必被擊潰，
祂必從天上用雷擊打他。
祂必審判天下，
賜力量給祂所立的君王，
使祂所膏立的人大有權柄。」
11以利加拿返回了拉瑪，小撒母耳卻留在了示羅，在祭司以利的帶領下事奉耶和華。
以利的惡子
12以利的兩個兒子為人邪惡，不敬畏耶和華， 13對民眾不守自己做祭司的職分。每當民眾來獻祭，還在煮祭肉的時候，他們的僕人便拿著三齒叉來， 14從罐裡、鼎裡、釜裡或鍋裡插肉，把插上來的祭肉據為己有。他們這樣對待所有到示羅來的以色列人。 15甚至在焚燒脂肪之前，祭司的僕人就來對獻祭的人說：「把肉給祭司烤吧！他不要煮過的，只要生的。」 16如果獻祭的人答道：「要先焚燒脂肪，之後你可以隨便拿。」僕人便會說：「不，你現在就給我，不然我就要搶了。」 17在耶和華的眼中，這兩個青年罪惡深重，因為他們輕視獻給耶和華的祭物。
18那時年少的撒母耳穿著細麻布的以弗得，在耶和華面前事奉。 19他母親每年都為他縫一件小外衣，在她和丈夫來獻年祭時帶給他。 20以利祝福以利加拿和他妻子，對他說：「願耶和華讓你妻子再給你生兒育女，代替她求來並獻給耶和華的孩子。」他們就回家去了。 21耶和華眷顧哈娜，她又生了三個兒子和兩個女兒。年少的撒母耳在耶和華面前漸漸長大。
22以利年事已高，他聽說兩個兒子對待以色列人的惡行，以及他們與在會幕門口供職的婦女行淫的事後， 23就對他們說：「你們為什麼做這樣的事？我從百姓口中聽說了有關你們的惡行。 24我兒啊，不可這樣，我聽到在耶和華的子民中流傳著你們的壞名聲。 25人若得罪了別人，有上帝為他們調解。但人若得罪了耶和華，誰能為他調解呢？」然而，他們不肯聽從父親的話，因為耶和華決意要殺他們。
26小撒母耳漸漸長大，深受耶和華和民眾的喜愛。
預言以利家的遭禍
27有一個上帝的僕人來見以利，對他說：「耶和華說，『你的祖先在埃及被法老奴役的時候，我向他們顯現。 28我在以色列各支派中選出你的先祖做我的祭司，在我的祭壇上獻祭燒香，穿著以弗得事奉我。我把以色列人獻的火祭都賜給你先祖家。 29你們為什麼蔑視獻給我的祭物和供品？你為什麼把你的兒子看得比我還重要，拿我以色列子民所獻的上好祭物來養肥自己？』
30「所以，以色列的上帝耶和華宣告說，『我曾經應許讓你們家族永遠做我的祭司。』但現在耶和華宣佈，『這絕不可能了。尊重我的，我必尊重他；藐視我的，必遭藐視。 31看啊，時候將到，我要終結你和你家族的力量，你們家族必沒有一個老人。 32你必以羡慕的眼光看著我賜福以色列人，你家中卻永遠沒有一個老人。 33我不會把你家中的人從我壇前滅絕，但留下來的人必使你哭瞎雙眼、傷心欲絕。你的子孫必中年夭亡。 34你的兩個兒子何弗尼和非尼哈必死在同一天，這就是我言出必行的記號。 35我要為自己立一位忠心的祭司，他必照我的心意行事。我要賜福給他的後代，他必永遠服侍我膏立的王。 36那時，你家存留下來的人要在他面前下拜，乞討銀子和餅，並懇求說，請給我一個祭司的職位以便糊口！』」
1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.2.3 arrogancy: Heb. hard 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them. 9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
11And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
12¶ Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 13And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.2.16 presently: Heb. as on the day 17Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18¶ But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 19Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20¶ And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.2.20 loan…: or, petition which she asked, etc 21And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
22¶ Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.2.22 assembled: Heb. assembled by troops 23And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.2.23 of your…: or, evil words of you 24Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’s people to transgress.2.24 transgress: or, cry out 25If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. 26And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
27¶ And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.2.32 an enemy…: or, the affliction of the tabernacle, for all the wealth which God would have given Israel 33And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.2.33 in the flower…: Heb. men 34And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. 35And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 36And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.2.36 Put: Heb. Join2.36 one of…: or, somewhat about the priesthood
