4. When the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice, he used to give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters,
5. but he would give a double portion to Hannah because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
6. Her rival, to upset her, would torment her constantly, since the Lord had closed her womb.
7. Year after year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would provoke her, and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat.
8. Elkanah, her husband, would say to her: “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why are you not eating? Why are you so miserable? Am I not better for you than ten sons?”
9. Hannah rose after one such meal at Shiloh, and presented herself before the Lord; at the time Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the Lord’s temple.
10. In her bitterness she prayed to the Lord, weeping freely,
11. and made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the hardship of your servant, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life. No razor shall ever touch his head.”
12. As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth,
13. for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking she was drunk,
14. said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up from your wine!”
15. “No, my lord!” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my heart to the Lord.
16. Do not think your servant a worthless woman; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.”
17. Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have requested.”
18. She replied, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes,” and left. She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downhearted.