JPS - I Samuel - 2

2:1  And Hannah prayed, and said: my heart exulteth in HaShem, my horn is exalted in HaShem; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy salvation.

2:2  There is none holy as HaShem, for there is none beside Thee; neither is there any rock like our G-d.

2:3  Multiply not exceeding proud talk; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; for HaShem is a G-d of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

2:4  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

2:5  They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry have ceased; while the barren hath borne seven, she that had many children hath languished.

2:6  HaShem killeth, and maketh alive; He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

2:7  HaShem maketh poor, and maketh rich; He bringeth low, He also lifteth up.

2:8  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dung-hill, to make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory; for the pillars of the earth are HaShem'S, and He hath set the world upon them.

2:9  He will keep the feet of His holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for not by strength shall man prevail.

2:10  They that strive with HaShem shall be broken to pieces; against them will He thunder in heaven; HaShem will judge the ends of the earth; and He will give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.

2:11  And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto HaShem before Eli the priest.

2:12  Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not HaShem.

2:13  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 in seething, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his band;

2:14  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 unto all the Israelites that came thither in Shiloh.

2:15  Yea, before the fat was made to smoke, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed: 'Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.'

2:16  And if the man said unto him: 'Let the fat be made to smoke first of all, 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.'

2:17  And the sin of the young men was very great before HaShem; for the men dealt contemptuously with the offering of HaShem.

2:18  But Samuel ministered before HaShem, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

2:19  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.

2:20  And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say: 'The HaShem give thee seed of this woman for the loan which was lent to HaShem.' And they would go unto their own home.

2:21  So HaShem remembered Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before HaShem.

2:22  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.

2:23  And he said unto them: 'Why do ye such things? for I hear evil reports concerning you from all this people.

2:24  Nay, my sons; for it is no good report which I hear HaShem'S people do spread abroad.

2:25  If one man sin against another, G-d shall judge him; but if a man sin against HaShem, who shall entreat for him?' But they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because HaShem would slay them.

2:26  And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in favour both with HaShem, and also with men.

2:27  And there came a man of G-d unto Eli, and said unto him: 'Thus saith HaShem: Did I reveal Myself unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house?

2:28  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?

2:29  Wherefore kick ye at My sacrifice and at Mine offering, which I have commanded in My habitation; and honourest thy sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel My people?

2:30  Therefore HaShem, the G-d of Israel, saith: I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before Me for ever; but now HaShem saith: Be it far from Me: for them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

2:31  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.

2:32  And thou shalt behold a rival in My habitation, in all the good which shall be done to Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever.

2:33  Yet will I not cut off every man of thine from Mine altar, to make thine eyes to fail, and thy heart to languish; and all the increase of thy house shall die young men.

2:34  And this shall be the sign unto thee, that which shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.

2:35  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.

2:36  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.'