The Birth of Samuel

1 In the time of those days she conceived and bore a son and called his name Samuel, which means Mighty, according as God called his name when he prophesied of him. Hannah sat and nursed the child until he was two years old, and when she had weaned him, she went up with him, bearing gifts in her hands; and the child was very fair, and the Lord was with him. 2 Hannah set the child before the face of Eli and said to him, “This is the desire I desired, and this is the request I sought.” Eli said to her, “Not only did you seek it, but the people also prayed for this. It is not your request alone, but it was promised long ago to the tribes; and by this child your womb is justified, that you should set up prophecy before the people and appoint the milk of your breasts to be a fountain for the twelve tribes.”

Hannah's Song

3 When Hannah heard that, she prayed and said, “Come at my voice, all you peoples, and give ear to my speech, all you kingdoms; for my mouth is opened that I may speak, and my lips are commanded that I may sing praises to the Lord. Drop, O my breasts, and give forth your testimonies, for you are appointed to give suck. For he will be raised up who is nursed by you, and by his words the people will be enlightened, and he will show the nations their boundaries, and his horn will be greatly exalted. 4 “Therefore I will utter my words openly, for out of me will arise the ordinance of the Lord, and all men will find the truth. Do not hurry to talk proudly, nor to utter lofty words out of your mouth, but delight yourselves in boasting when the light comes forth, out of which wisdom will be born, so that those who have the most possessions may not be called rich, nor those who have borne abundantly be called mothers; for the barren one has been satisfied, and she who was multiplied in sons has become empty. 5 “For the Lord kills with judgment and gives life in mercy.⁠a The ungodly are in this world; therefore he gives life to the righteous when he wills, but the ungodly he will shut up in darkness. But for the righteous he preserves their light; and when the ungodly are dead, then they will perish, and when the righteous have fallen asleep, then they will be delivered. And so all judgment will endure until he is revealed who holds it. 6 “Speak, speak, O Hannah, and do not keep silent; sing praises, O daughter of Bathuel, because of the wonders God has worked with you. Who is Hannah, that a prophet should come out of her? Or who is the daughter of Bathuel, that she should bring forth a light for the peoples? Arise, you also, Elkanah, and prepare yourself. Sing praises for the signs of the Lord; for of your son did Asaph prophesy in the wilderness, saying, ‘Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them.’ The word is accomplished and the prophecy has come to pass. And these things endure thus, until they give a horn to his anointed, and power cleaves to the throne of his king. Yet let my son stand here and minister, until there arises a light for this people.” 7 They departed from there and set out with joy, rejoicing and exulting in heart for all the glory God had worked with them. And the people went down with one accord to Silo with timbrels and dances, with lutes and harps, and came to Eli the priest and offered Samuel to him, whom they set before the face of the Lord and anointed, and said, “Let the prophet live among the people, and let him long be a light to this nation.”