1 Então, orou Ana e disse:

O meu coração se regozija no Senhor,

a minha força está exaltada no Senhor;

a minha boca se ri dos meus inimigos,

porquanto me alegro na tua salvação.

2 Não há santo como o Senhor;

porque não há outro além de ti;

e Rocha não há, nenhuma, como o nosso Deus.

3 Não multipliqueis palavras de orgulho,

nem saiam coisas arrogantes da vossa boca;

porque o Senhor é o Deus da sabedoria

e pesa todos os feitos na balança.

4 O arco dos fortes é quebrado,

porém os débeis, cingidos de força.

5 Os que antes eram fartos hoje se alugam por pão,

mas os que andavam famintos não sofrem mais fome;

até a estéril tem sete filhos,

e a que tinha muitos filhos perde o vigor.

6 O Senhor é o que tira a vida e a dá;

faz descer à sepultura e faz subir.

7 O Senhor empobrece e enriquece;

abaixa e também exalta.

8 Levanta o pobre do pó

e, desde o monturo, exalta o necessitado,

para o fazer assentar entre os príncipes,

para o fazer herdar o trono de glória;

porque do Senhor são as colunas da terra,

e assentou sobre elas o mundo.

9 Ele guarda os pés dos seus santos,

porém os perversos emudecem nas trevas da morte;

porque o homem não prevalece pela força.

10 Os que contendem com o Senhor são quebrantados;

dos céus troveja contra eles.

O Senhor julga as extremidades da terra,

dá força ao seu rei

e exalta o poder do seu ungido.

11 Então, Elcana foi-se a Ramá, a sua casa; porém o menino ficou servindo ao Senhor, perante o sacerdote Eli.

12 Eram, porém, os filhos de Eli filhos de Belial e não se importavam com o Senhor; 13 pois o costume daqueles sacerdotes com o povo era que, oferecendo alguém sacrifício, vinha o moço do sacerdote, estando-se cozendo a carne, com um garfo de três dentes na mão; 14 e metia-o na caldeira, ou na panela, ou no tacho, ou na marmita, e tudo quanto o garfo tirava o sacerdote tomava para si; assim se fazia a todo o Israel que ia ali, a Siló. 15 Também, antes de se queimar a gordura, vinha o moço do sacerdote e dizia ao homem que sacrificava: Dá essa carne para assar ao sacerdote; porque não aceitará de ti carne cozida, senão crua. 16 Se o ofertante lhe respondia: Queime-se primeiro a gordura, e, depois, tomarás quanto quiseres, então, ele lhe dizia: Não, porém hás de ma dar agora; se não, tomá-la-ei à força. 17 Era, pois, mui grande o pecado destes moços perante o Senhor, porquanto eles desprezavam a oferta do Senhor.

18 Samuel ministrava perante o Senhor, sendo ainda menino, vestido de uma estola sacerdotal de linho. 19 Sua mãe lhe fazia uma túnica pequena e, de ano em ano, lha trazia quando, com seu marido, subia a oferecer o sacrifício anual. 20 Eli abençoava a Elcana e a sua mulher e dizia: O Senhor te dê filhos desta mulher, em lugar do filho que devolveu ao Senhor. E voltavam para a sua casa. 21 Abençoou, pois, o Senhor a Ana, e ela concebeu e teve três filhos e duas filhas; e o jovem Samuel crescia diante do Senhor.

22 Era, porém, Eli já muito velho e ouvia tudo quanto seus filhos faziam a todo o Israel e de como se deitavam com as mulheres que serviam à porta da tenda da congregação. 23 E disse-lhes: Por que fazeis tais coisas? Pois de todo este povo ouço constantemente falar do vosso mau procedimento. 24 Não, filhos meus, porque não é boa fama esta que ouço; estais fazendo transgredir o povo do Senhor. 25 Pecando o homem contra o próximo, Deus lhe será o árbitro; pecando, porém, contra o Senhor, quem intercederá por ele? Entretanto, não ouviram a voz de seu pai, porque o Senhor os queria matar. 26 Mas o jovem Samuel crescia em estatura e no favor do Senhor e dos homens.

27 Veio um homem de Deus a Eli e lhe disse: Assim diz o Senhor: Não me manifestei, na verdade, à casa de teu pai, estando os israelitas ainda no Egito, na casa de Faraó? 28 Eu o escolhi dentre todas as tribos de Israel para ser o meu sacerdote, para subir ao meu altar, para queimar o incenso e para trazer a estola sacerdotal perante mim; e dei à casa de teu pai todas as ofertas queimadas dos filhos de Israel. 29 Por que pisais aos pés os meus sacrifícios e as minhas ofertas de manjares, que ordenei se me fizessem na minha morada? E, tu, por que honras a teus filhos mais do que a mim, para tu e eles vos engordardes das melhores de todas as ofertas do meu povo de Israel? 30 Portanto, diz o Senhor, Deus de Israel: Na verdade, dissera eu que a tua casa e a casa de teu pai andariam diante de mim perpetuamente; porém, agora, diz o Senhor: Longe de mim tal coisa, porque aos que me honram, honrarei, porém os que me desprezam serão desmerecidos. 31 Eis que vêm dias em que cortarei o teu braço e o braço da casa de teu pai, para que não haja mais velho nenhum em tua casa. 32 E verás o aperto da morada de Deus, a um tempo com o bem que fará a Israel; e jamais haverá velho em tua casa. 33 O homem, porém, da tua linhagem a quem eu não afastar do meu altar será para te consumir os olhos e para te entristecer a alma; e todos os descendentes da tua casa morrerão na flor da idade. 34 Ser-te-á por sinal o que sobrevirá a teus dois filhos, a Hofni e Fineias: ambos morrerão no mesmo dia. 35 Então, suscitarei para mim um sacerdote fiel, que procederá segundo o que tenho no coração e na mente; edificar-lhe-ei uma casa estável, e andará ele diante do meu ungido para sempre. 36 Será que todo aquele que restar da tua casa virá a inclinar-se diante dele, para obter uma moeda de prata e um bocado de pão, e dirá: Rogo-te que me admitas a algum dos cargos sacerdotais, para ter um pedaço de pão, que coma.

1 And Hannah prayed, and said:

My heart exulteth in Jehovah;

My horn is exalted in Jehovah;

My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;

Because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2 There is none holy as Jehovah;

For there is none besides thee,

Neither is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly;

Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth;

For Jehovah is a God of knowledge,

And by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken;

And they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread;

And they that were hungry have ceased to hunger:

Yea, the barren hath borne seven;

And she that hath many children languisheth.

6 Jehovah killeth, and maketh alive:

He bringeth down to Sheol, and bringeth up.

7 Jehovah maketh poor, and maketh rich:

He bringeth low, he also lifteth up.

8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,

He lifteth up the needy from the dunghill,

To make them sit with princes,

And inherit the throne of glory:

For the pillars of the earth are Jehovah’s,

And he hath set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of his holy ones;

But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness;

For by strength shall no man prevail.

10 They that strive with Jehovah shall be broken to pieces;

Against them will he thunder in heaven:

Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth;

And he will give strength unto his king,

And exalt the horn of his anointed.

11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto Jehovah before Eli the priest.

12 Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not Jehovah. 13 And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand; 14 and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15 Yea, before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of thee, but raw. 16 And if the man said unto him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would say, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17 And the sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah; for the men despised the offering of Jehovah.

18 But Samuel ministered before Jehovah, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother made him a little robe, 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, Jehovah give thee seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Jehovah. And they went unto their own home. 21 And Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Jehovah.

22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people. 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make Jehovah’s people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them. 26 And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Jehovah, and also with men.

27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Did I reveal myself unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house? 28 and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up unto mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 Therefore Jehovah, the God of Israel, saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now Jehovah saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house. 32 And thou shalt behold the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever. 33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thy heart; and all the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age. 34 And this shall be the sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them. 35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thy house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.

1 Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn "is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.

2 "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

3 "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.

4 "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.

7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.

8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; on them he has set the world.

9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;

10 those who oppose the LORD will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the LORD under Eli the priest.

12 Eli's sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD.

13 Now it was the practice 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 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 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 "were treating the LORD's offering with contempt.

18 But Samuel was ministering before the LORD —a boy wearing a linen ephod.

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 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 for and gave to "the LORD." Then they would go home.

21 And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women 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 "may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the LORD, who will intercede 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 in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.

27 Now a man of God 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 your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor's family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites.

29 Why do you "scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? 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.' But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

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,

32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.

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 will die in the prime of life.

34 "'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you —they will both die on the same day.

35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, 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 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, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat."'"