Old/New Testament
Hannah Is Childless
1 There was a man from Ramathaim Zophim,[a] from the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives;[b] the name of the first was Hannah and the name of the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 This man would go up from his city year after year[c] to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies at Shiloh.[d] (It was there that the two sons of Eli,[e] Hophni and Phinehas, served as the Lord’s priests.) 4 The day came, and Elkanah sacrificed.
(Now[f] he used to give meat portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double[g] portion because he loved Hannah,[h] although[i] the Lord had not enabled her to have children. 6 Her rival used to aggravate her to the point of exasperation,[j] just to irritate her,[k] since the Lord had not enabled her to have children. 7 This is how it would go[l] year after year. As often as she went up to the Lord’s house, Peninnah[m] would offend her in that way.)[n]
So she cried and refused to eat. 8 Then her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying and why won’t you eat? Why are you so upset?[o] Am I not better to you than ten[p] sons?” 9 So Hannah got up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh.[q]
At the time[r] Eli the priest was sitting in his chair[s] by the doorpost of the Lord’s sanctuary.[t] 10 As for Hannah, she was very distressed.[u] She prayed to the Lord and was, in fact, weeping.[v] 11 She made a vow saying, “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you would truly look[w] on the suffering of your servant,[x] and would keep me in mind and not neglect[y] your servant, and give your servant a male child,[z] then I will dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life. His hair will never be cut.”[aa]
12 It turned out[ab] that she did a great deal[ac] of praying before the Lord. Meanwhile[ad] Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her mind.[ae] Only her lips were moving; her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was a drunkard.[af]
14 Then he[ag] said to her, “How much longer do you intend to get drunk? Put away your wine!”[ah] 15 But Hannah replied, “Not so, my lord! I am a woman under a great deal of stress.[ai] I haven’t drunk wine or beer. But I have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman.[aj] It’s just that,[ak] to this point, I have spoken from my deep pain[al] and anguish.”[am]
17 Eli replied, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May I, your servant, find favor in your sight.”[an] So the woman went her way and got something to eat.[ao] Her face no longer looked sad.[ap]
19 They got up early the next morning. Then they worshiped[aq] the Lord and returned to their home at Ramathaim.[ar] Elkanah was intimate with[as] his wife Hannah, and the Lord called her to mind.[at] 20 Then Hannah became pregnant.
Hannah Dedicates Samuel to the Lord
In the course of time she gave birth to a son.[au] And she named him Samuel, thinking, “I asked the Lord for him.”[av] 21 Then the man Elkanah and all his family went up to make the yearly sacrifice[aw] to the Lord and to keep his vow.[ax] 22 But Hannah did not go up with them,[ay] because she had told[az] her husband, “Not[ba] until the boy is weaned. Then I will bring him so that he may appear before the Lord. And he will remain there from then on.”[bb]
23 Then her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do what you think best.[bc] Stay until you have weaned him. Only may the Lord fulfill his promise.”[bd]
So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. 24 Then she took him up with her[be] as soon as she had weaned him, along with three bulls,[bf] an ephah[bg] of flour, and a container[bh] of wine. She came to the Lord’s house at Shiloh, and the boy was with them.[bi] 25 They slaughtered the bull, then brought the boy to Eli.[bj] 26 She said, “My lord. Just as surely as you are alive, my lord, I am the woman who previously stood here with you in order to pray to the Lord. 27 For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me the request that I asked of him. 28 So I also dedicate[bk] him to the Lord. For all the days of his life[bl] he is dedicated to the Lord.” Then he[bm] bowed down there in worship[bn] to the Lord.
Hannah Exalts the Lord in Prayer
2 Hannah prayed,[bo]
“My heart has rejoiced[bp] in the Lord;
my horn[bq] has been raised high because of the Lord.
I have loudly denounced[br] my enemies.
Indeed I rejoice in your deliverance.
2 No one is holy[bs] like the Lord!
There is no one other than you!
There is no rock[bt] like our God!
3 Don’t keep speaking[bu] so arrogantly.[bv]
Proud talk should not[bw] come out of your mouth,
for the Lord is a God who knows;
he[bx] evaluates what people do.
4 The bows of warriors are shattered,
but those who stumbled have taken on strength.[by]
5 The well fed hire themselves out to earn food,
but the hungry no longer lack.[bz]
Even[ca] the barren woman has given birth to seven,[cb]
but the one with many children has declined.[cc]
6 The Lord both kills and gives life;
he brings down to the grave[cd] and raises up.[ce]
7 The Lord impoverishes and makes wealthy;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 He lifts the weak[cf] from the dust;
he raises[cg] the poor from the ash heap
to seat them with princes—
he bestows on them an honored position.[ch]
The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord—
he placed the world on them.
9 He watches over[ci] his holy ones,[cj]
but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness,[ck]
for it is not by one’s own[cl] strength that one prevails.
10 The Lord shatters[cm] his adversaries;[cn]
he thunders against them from[co] the heavens.
The Lord executes judgment to the ends of the earth.
He will strengthen[cp] his king
and exalt the power[cq] of his anointed one.”[cr]
11 Then Elkanah went back home to Ramah.
Eli’s Sons Misuse Their Sacred Office
The boy[cs] Samuel[ct] was serving the Lord with the favor of[cu] Eli the priest.[cv] 12 But the sons of Eli were wicked men.[cw] They did not acknowledge the Lord’s authority.[cx] 13 This was the priests’ routine with the people. Whenever anyone was making a sacrifice,[cy] the priest’s attendant would come with a three-pronged fork[cz] in his hand, just as the meat was boiling. 14 He would jab it into the basin, kettle, cauldron, or pot. Everything that the fork would bring up the priest would take for himself. This is how they used to treat all the Israelites[da] who came there[db] to Shiloh.
15 Also, before they burned the fat the priest’s attendant would come and say to the person who was making the sacrifice, “Give some meat for the priest to roast! He[dc] won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”[dd] 16 If[de] the individual said to him, “They should certainly burn[df] the fat away first, then take for yourself[dg] whatever you wish,”[dh] then he would say, “No![di] Give it now! If not, I’ll take it by force!”[dj] 17 The sin of these young men[dk] was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they[dl] treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.
18 Now[dm] Samuel was ministering with the favor of the Lord.[dn] The boy[do] was dressed in a linen ephod. 19 His mother used to make him a small robe and bring it to him from time to time when she would go up with her husband to make the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife saying, “May the Lord establish[dp] descendants[dq] for you from this woman in place of the one that she dedicated[dr] to the Lord.” Then they[ds] would go to their[dt] home. 21 And indeed the Lord attended to[du] Hannah. She got pregnant and gave birth to[dv] three sons and two daughters. But the boy[dw] Samuel grew up before the Lord.[dx]
22 Eli was very old. And he would hear about everything that his sons used to do to all the people of Israel[dy] and[dz] how they used to go to bed with[ea] the women who were stationed at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do these things, these evil things that I hear about from all these people?[eb] 24 No, my sons! For the report that I hear circulating[ec] among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If a man sins against a man, one may appeal to God on his behalf.[ed] But if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But Eli’s sons[ee] would not listen to their father.[ef] Indeed[eg] the Lord had decided[eh] to kill them. 26 However, the boy[ei] Samuel was growing up and finding favor both with the Lord and with people.[ej]
The Lord Judges the House of Eli
27 Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘I plainly[ek] revealed[el] myself to your ancestor’s house when they were slaves to the house of Pharaoh in Egypt.[em] 28 I chose[en] your ancestor[eo] from all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifice on my altar, to burn incense, and to bear[ep] the ephod before me. I gave to your ancestor’s house all the fire offerings made by the Israelites. 29 Why are you[eq] scorning my sacrifice and my offering that I commanded for my dwelling place?[er] You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people Israel.’
30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘I really did say[es] that your house and your ancestor’s house would serve[et] me forever.’ But now the Lord says, ‘May it never be![eu] For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed! 31 In fact, days are coming when I will remove your strength[ev] and the strength[ew] of your father’s house. There will not be an old man in your house! 32 You will see trouble in my dwelling place![ex] Israel will experience blessings,[ey] but there will not be an old man in your[ez] house for all time.[fa] 33 Any man of yours that I do not cut off from my altar, I will cause his[fb] eyes to fail[fc] and will cause him grief.[fd] All those born to your family[fe] will die by the sword of man.[ff] 34 This will be a confirming sign for you that will be fulfilled through your two sons,[fg] Hophni and Phinehas: in a single day they both will die! 35 Then I will raise up for myself a faithful priest. He will do what is in my heart and soul. I will build for him a lasting dynasty,[fh] and he will serve my chosen one for all time.[fi] 36 Everyone who remains in your house will come to bow before him for a little money[fj] and for a scrap of bread. Each will say, “Assign me to a priestly task so I can eat a scrap of bread.”’”
The Call of Samuel
3 Now the boy Samuel continued serving the Lord under Eli’s supervision.[fk] Receiving a message from the Lord was rare in those days; revelatory visions were infrequent.
2 Eli’s eyes had begun to fail, so that he was unable to see well. At that time he was lying down in his place, 3 and the lamp of God had not yet been extinguished. Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord as well; the ark of God was also there. 4 The Lord called to Samuel, and he replied, “Here I am!” 5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli[fl] said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” So he went back and lay down. 6 The Lord again called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli[fm] said, “I didn’t call you, my son. Go back and lie down.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord; the Lord’s messages had not yet been revealed to him. 8 Then the Lord called Samuel a third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me!” Eli then realized that it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ So Samuel went back and lay down in his place.
10 Then the Lord came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel replied, “Speak, for your servant is listening!” 11 The Lord said to Samuel, “Look! I am about to do something in Israel;[fn] when anyone hears about it, both of his ears will tingle. 12 On that day I will carry out[fo] against Eli everything that I spoke about his house—from start to finish! 13 You[fp] should tell him that I am about to judge his house forever because of[fq] the sin that he knew about. For his sons were cursing God,[fr] and he did not rebuke them. 14 Therefore I swore an oath to the house of Eli, ‘The sin of the house of Eli can never be forgiven by sacrifice or by grain offering.’”
15 So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. 16 However, Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He replied, “Here I am.” 17 Eli[fs] said, “What message did he speak to you? Don’t conceal it from me. God will judge you severely[ft] if you conceal from me anything that he said to you!”
18 So Samuel told him everything. He did not hold back anything from him. Eli[fu] said, “The Lord will do what he pleases.”[fv] 19 Samuel continued to grow, and the Lord was with him. None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled.[fw] 20 All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 21 Then the Lord again appeared in Shiloh, for it was in Shiloh that the Lord had revealed himself to Samuel[fx] through a message from the Lord.[fy]
Healing of a Demoniac
26 So[a] they sailed over to the region of the Gerasenes,[b] which is opposite[c] Galilee. 27 As[d] Jesus[e] stepped ashore,[f] a certain man from the town[g] met him who was possessed by demons.[h] For a long time this man[i] had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among[j] the tombs. 28 When he saw[k] Jesus, he cried out, fell[l] down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, “Leave me alone,[m] Jesus, Son of the Most High[n] God! I beg you, do not torment[o] me!” 29 For Jesus[p] had started commanding[q] the evil[r] spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so[s] he would be bound with chains and shackles[t] and kept under guard. But[u] he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted[v] places.)[w] 30 Jesus then[x] asked him, “What is your name?” He[y] said, “Legion,”[z] because many demons had entered him. 31 And they began to beg[aa] him not to order[ab] them to depart into the abyss.[ac] 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,[ad] and the demonic spirits[ae] begged Jesus[af] to let them go into them. He gave them permission.[ag] 33 So[ah] the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs[ai] rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. 34 When[aj] the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran off and spread the news[ak] in the town[al] and countryside. 35 So[am] the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They[an] found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 Those[ao] who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed.[ap] 37 Then[aq] all the people of the Gerasenes[ar] and the surrounding region[as] asked Jesus[at] to leave them alone,[au] for they were seized with great fear.[av] So[aw] he got into the boat and left.[ax] 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go[ay] with him, but Jesus[az] sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home,[ba] and declare[bb] what God has done for you.”[bc] So[bd] he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town[be] what Jesus[bf] had done for him.
Restoration and Healing
40 Now when Jesus returned,[bg] the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him. 41 Then[bh] a man named Jairus, who was a leader[bi] of the synagogue,[bj] came up. Falling[bk] at Jesus’ feet, he pleaded[bl] with him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.[bm]
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds pressed[bn] around him. 43 Now[bo] a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage[bp] for twelve years[bq] but could not be healed by anyone. 44 She[br] came up behind Jesus[bs] and touched the edge[bt] of his cloak,[bu] and at once the bleeding[bv] stopped. 45 Then[bw] Jesus asked,[bx] “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter[by] said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing[bz] against you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out[ca] from me.” 47 When[cb] the woman saw that she could not escape notice,[cc] she came trembling and fell down before him. In[cd] the presence of all the people, she explained why[ce] she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. 48 Then[cf] he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.[cg] Go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue leader’s[ch] house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” 50 But when Jesus heard this, he told[ci] him, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”[cj] 51 Now when he came to the house, Jesus[ck] did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John,[cl] and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Now they were all[cm] wailing and mourning[cn] for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep!” 53 And they began making fun[co] of him, because they knew[cp] that she was dead.[cq] 54 But Jesus[cr] gently took her by the hand and said,[cs] “Child, get up.” 55 Her[ct] spirit returned,[cu] and she got up immediately. Then[cv] he told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her[cw] parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one[cx] what had happened.
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