Font Size
1 Samuel 2
1599 Geneva Bible
1 Samuel 2
1599 Geneva Bible
2 1 The song of Hannah. 12 The sons of Eli, wicked. 13 The new custom of the Priests. 18 Samuel ministereth before the Lord. 20 Eli blesseth Elkanah and his wife. 23 Eli reproveth his sons. 27 God sendeth a Prophet to Eli. 31 Eli is menaced for not chastising his children.
1 And Hannah [a]prayed, and said, Mine heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine [b]horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is [c]enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: yea, there is none besides thee, and there is no god like our God.
3 Speak [d]no more presumptuously: let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him enterprises are established.
4 The bow and the mighty men are broken, and the weak have girded themselves with strength.
5 They that were full, are hired forth for [e]bread, and the hungry are no more hired, so that the barren hath borne [f]seven: and she that had many children is feeble.
6 (A)The Lord killeth and maketh alive: bringeth down to the grave and raiseth up.
7 The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich: bringeth low, and exalteth.
8 (B)He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among [g]princes, and to make them inherit the seat of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the [h]Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his Saints, and the wicked shall keep silence in darkness: for in his own might shall no man be strong.
10 The Lord’s adversaries shall be destroyed, and out of heaven shall he (C)thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the world, and shall give power unto his [i]King, and exalt the horn of his Anointed.
11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house, and the child did minister unto the [j]Lord before Eli the Priest.
12 ¶ Now the sons of Eli were wicked men, and [k]knew not the Lord.
13 For the Priests’ custom toward the people was this: when any man offered sacrifice, the Priest’s [l]boy came, while the flesh was seething, and a fleshhook with three teeth in his hand,
14 And thrust it into the kettle, or into the caldron, or into the pan, or into the pot: [m]all that the fleshhook brought up, the Priest took for himself: thus they did unto all the Israelites, that came thither to Shiloh.
15 Yea, before they burnt the [n]fat, the Priest’s boy came and said unto the man that offered, Give me flesh to roast for the Priest: for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them burn the fat according to the [o]custom, then take as much as thine heart [p]desireth: then he would answer, No, but thou shalt give it now: and if thou wilt not, I will take it by force.
17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men [q]abhorred the offering of the Lord.
18 ¶ Now Samuel being a young child ministered before the Lord, girded with a linen (D)Ephod.
19 And 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 [r]the petition that she asked of the Lord: and they departed unto their place.
21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons, and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
22 ¶ So Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that [s]assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for of all this people I hear evil reports of you.
24 Do no more, my sons: for it is no good report that I hear, which is, that ye make the Lord’s people to [t]trespass.
25 If one man sin against another, the Judge shall judge it: but if a man sin against the Lord, who will plead for him? Notwithstanding they obeyed not the voice of their father, because the Lord [u]would slay them.
26 ¶ (Now the child Samuel profited, and grew, and was in favor 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 not I plainly appear unto the house of thy [v]father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?
28 And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my Priest, to offer upon my altar, and to burn incense, and to wear an Ephod before me, and (E)I gave unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel.
29 Wherefore have you [w]kicked against my sacrifice and mine offering, which I commanded in my Tabernacle, and honorest thy children above me, to make yourselves fat of the firstfruits of all the offerings of Israel my people?
30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said, that thine house, and the house of thy father should walk before me forever: but now the Lord saith, [x]It shall not be so: for them that honor me, I will honor, and they that despise me, shall be despised.
31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine [y]arm, and the arm of thy fathers house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32 And thou [z]shalt see thine enemy in the habitation of the Lord in all things wherewith God shall bless Israel, and there shall not be an old man in thine house forever.
33 Nevertheless, I will not destroy every one of thine from mine altar, to make thine eyes to fail, and to make thine heart sorrowful: and all the multitude of thine house shall [aa]die when they be men.
34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both.
35 And I will stir me up a [ab]faithful Priest, that shall do according to mine heart, and according to my mind: and I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before mine Anointed forever.
36 And all that are left in thine house, shall come and [ac]bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Appoint me, I pray thee, to one of the Priest’s offices, that I may eat a morsel [of] bread.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 2:1 After that she had obtained a son by prayer, she gave thanks.
- 1 Samuel 2:1 I have recovered strength and glory by the benefit of the Lord.
- 1 Samuel 2:1 I can answer them that reprove my barrenness.
- 1 Samuel 2:3 In that ye condemn my barrenness, ye show your pride against God.
- 1 Samuel 2:5 They sell their labors for necessary food.
- 1 Samuel 2:5 Or, many.
- 1 Samuel 2:8 He prefereth to honor, and putteth down according to his own will, though man’s judgment be contrary.
- 1 Samuel 2:8 Therefore he may dispose all things according to his will.
- 1 Samuel 2:10 She grounded her prayer on Jesus Christ which was to come.
- 1 Samuel 2:11 In all that Eli commanded him.
- 1 Samuel 2:12 That is, they neglected his ordinance.
- 1 Samuel 2:13 Or, son.
- 1 Samuel 2:14 Transgressing the order appointed in the Law, Lev. 7:31, for their belly’s sake.
- 1 Samuel 2:15 Which was commanded first to have been offered to God.
- 1 Samuel 2:16 Or, Law.
- 1 Samuel 2:16 Not passing for their own profit, so that God might be served aright.
- 1 Samuel 2:17 Seeing the horrible abuse thereof.
- 1 Samuel 2:20 Or, for the thing that she hath lent to the Lord: to wit, Samuel.
- 1 Samuel 2:22 Which was (as the Hebrews write) after their travail, when they came to be purified, read Exod. 38:8; Lev. 12:6.
- 1 Samuel 2:24 Because they contemn their duty to God, verse 17.
- 1 Samuel 2:25 So that to obey good admonitions is God’s mercy, and to disobey them is his just judgment for sin.
- 1 Samuel 2:27 To wit, Aaron.
- 1 Samuel 2:29 Why have you contemned my sacrifices, and as it were trod them under foot?
- 1 Samuel 2:30 God’s promises are only effectual to such as he giveth constancy unto, to fear and obey him.
- 1 Samuel 2:31 Thy power and authority.
- 1 Samuel 2:32 Thy posterity shall see the glory of the chief Priest translated to another, whom they shall envy, 1 Kings 2:27.
- 1 Samuel 2:33 Or, when they come to man’s age.
- 1 Samuel 2:35 Meaning Zadok, who succeeded Abiathar, and was the figure of Christ.
- 1 Samuel 2:36 That is, shall be inferior unto him.
1 Samuel 2
New International Version
1 Samuel 2
New International Version
Hannah’s Prayer
2 Then Hannah prayed and said:(A)
“My heart rejoices(B) in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn[a](C) is lifted high.
My mouth boasts(D) over my enemies,(E)
for I delight in your deliverance.
2 “There is no one holy(F) like(G) the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock(H) like our God.
3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,(I)
for the Lord is a God who knows,(J)
and by him deeds(K) are weighed.(L)
4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,(M)
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.(N)
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry(O) are hungry no more.
She who was barren(P) has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;(Q)
he brings down to the grave and raises up.(R)
7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;(S)
he humbles and he exalts.(T)
8 He raises(U) the poor(V) from the dust(W)
and lifts the needy(X) from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.(Y)
“For the foundations(Z) of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet(AA) of his faithful servants,(AB)
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.(AC)
“It is not by strength(AD) that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the Lord will be broken.(AE)
The Most High will thunder(AF) from heaven;
the Lord will judge(AG) the ends of the earth.
11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah,(AJ) but the boy ministered(AK) before the Lord under Eli the priest.
Eli’s Wicked Sons
12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard(AL) for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice(AM) of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat(AN) was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”
16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat(AO) be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”
17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they[b] were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.(AP)
18 But Samuel was ministering(AQ) before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.(AR) 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual(AS) sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed(AT) for and gave to[c] the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah;(AU) she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew(AV) up in the presence of the Lord.
22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything(AW) his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women(AX) who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God[d] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will(AY) intercede(AZ) for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.
26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow(BA) in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.(BB)
Prophecy Against the House of Eli
27 Now a man of God(BC) came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose(BD) your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense,(BE) and to wear an ephod(BF) in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings(BG) presented by the Israelites. 29 Why do you[e] scorn my sacrifice and offering(BH) that I prescribed for my dwelling?(BI) Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’
30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.(BJ)’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor,(BK) but those who despise(BL) me will be disdained.(BM) 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age,(BN) 32 and you will see distress(BO) in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.(BP) 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants(BQ) will die in the prime of life.
34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign(BR) to you—they will both die(BS) on the same day.(BT) 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest,(BU) who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed(BV) one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead,(BW) “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.(BX)”’”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 2:1 Horn here symbolizes strength; also in verse 10.
- 1 Samuel 2:17 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text people
- 1 Samuel 2:20 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text and asked from
- 1 Samuel 2:25 Or the judges
- 1 Samuel 2:29 The Hebrew is plural.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.