1 Samuel 2:1-17 ▼

1 AND Hannah prayed and said, My heart is magnified in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God; my mouth utters words against my enemies, because thou hast caused me to rejoice in thy salvation.

2 There is none holy like the LORD; for there is none besides thee; and there is none powerful like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouths; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and no devices can stand before him.

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

5 Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread; and those who were hungry have food left over; the barren has given birth and is satisfied; and she who has many children is lonely.

6 It is the LORD who makes men to die and makes alive; he brings down to Sheol and brings up.

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he also exalts.

8 He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the needy from the dung-hill, to set them with the princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory; for the depths of the earth are protected by the LORD, and he has set the world upon them.

9 He will guard the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for not by his own strength shall a mighty man prevail.

10 The LORD shall defeat his adversaries; out of heaven shall he thunder against them; the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.

11 And Hilkanah and his wife Hannah returned to Ramtha to his house. And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.

12 Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they did not know the LORD.

13 They took the dues of the priests from the people, of every man who offered a sacrifice; and they made for themselves meat-forks with three prongs, and the priest's servant came, while the meat was boiling, with the three-pronged fork in his hand,

14 And he thrust it into the pot or caldron or pan or kettle; all that the meat-fork brought up the priest took for himself. Thus they did to all the Israelites who came thither to Shiloh.

15 Also before they burnt the sacrifices, the priest's servant came and said to the man who was sacrificing, Give meat to roast for the priest; for I will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.

16 And if the man said to him, They will surely offer sacrifices today, and then take for yourself as much as you wish; then he would say, No; you shall give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.

17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD; because they offended the men who offered before the LORD.