10. Though she was resentful, she prayed to the Lord while she cried.
11. She made this vow, “Lord of Armies, if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives. A razor will never be used on his head.”
12. While Hannah was praying a long time in front of the Lord, Eli was watching her mouth.
13. She was praying silently. Her voice couldn’t be heard; only her lips were moving. Eli thought she was drunk.
14. “How long are you going to stay drunk?” Eli asked her. “Get rid of your wine.”
15. Hannah responded, “No sir. I’m not drunk. I’m depressed. I’m pouring out my heart to the Lord.
16. Don’t take me to be a good-for-nothing woman. I was praying like this because I’ve been troubled and tormented.”
17. Eli replied, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your request.”
18. “May you continue to be kind to me,” she said. Then the woman went her way and ate. She was no longer sad.
19. Early in the morning Elkanah and his family got up and worshiped in front of the Lord. Then they returned home to Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
20. Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel [God Hears], because she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”
21. To keep his vow, Elkanah and his entire household again went to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord.
22. But Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, “I’ll wait until the boy is weaned. Then I’ll bring him and present him to the Lord, and he’ll stay there permanently.”
23. “Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Wait until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord keep his word.” The woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.