I - Chapter 1

1There was a man from Ramathaim of the Zuphites, in the hill country of Efraim, whose name was Elkana son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

vai-HI, eesh e-KHAD min ha-ra-MA-ta-YIM tzo-FEEM me-har ef-ra-YIM, u-sh'-MO el-KA-na ben ye-ro-KHAM ben e-li-HU-a ben-TO-khu ben-TZUF ef-ra-TI

אוַיְהִי֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֜ד מִן־הָרָמָתַ֛יִם צוֹפִ֖ים מֵהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וּשְׁמ֡וֹ אֶ֠לְקָנָ֠ה בֶּן־יְרֹחָ֧ם בֶּן־אֱלִיה֛וּא בֶּן־תֹּ֥חוּ בֶן־צ֖וּף אֶפְרָתִֽי׃

2He had two wives, one named Chana and the other Penina; Penina had children, but Chana was childless.

v'-LO sh'-TEY na-SHEEM, shaym a-KHAT kha-NAH, v'-shaym ha-shay-NEET pe-ni-NAH, va-YA-hee li-pe-ni-NAH ye-la-DEEM, u-le-kha-NAH AYN ye-la-DEEM.

בוְלוֹ֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֔ים שֵׁ֤ם אַחַת֙ חַנָּ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פְּנִנָּ֑ה וַיְהִ֤י לִפְנִנָּה֙ יְלָדִ֔ים וּלְחַנָּ֖ה אֵ֥ין יְלָדִֽים׃

3This man used to go up from his town every year to worship and to offer sacrifice to the lord of Hosts at Shilo.—Chofni and Pinchas, the two sons of Eli, were Kohanim of Hashem there.

v'-a-LAH ha-ISH ha-HU me-i-RO mi-YA-mim YA-mi-MAH l'-hi-shta-KHA-vot v'-liz-BO-akh la-a-do-NAI t'-za-VA-OT b'-shi-LO v'-SHAM sh'-NAY v'-NAY e-LI kho-F'NI u-fi-N'-KHAS ko-ha-NEEM la-a-do-NAI

גוְעָלָה֩ הָאִ֨ישׁ הַה֤וּא מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ מִיָּמִ֣ים ׀ יָמִ֔ימָה לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֧ת וְלִזְבֹּ֛חַ לַיהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בְּשִׁלֹ֑ה וְשָׁ֞ם שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עֵלִ֗י חׇפְנִי֙ וּפִ֣נְחָ֔ס כֹּהֲנִ֖ים לַיהֹוָֽה׃

4One such day, Elkana offered a sacrifice. He used to give portions to his wife Penina and to all her sons and daughters;

vai-Y'-hee ha-YOM va-yiz-BACH el-ka-NAH, va-ya-TAN lif-NI-nah ish-TO, u-l'-KOL ba-NE-ha u-ve-NO-te-ha ma-NOT

דוַיְהִ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם וַיִּזְבַּ֖ח אֶלְקָנָ֑ה וְנָתַ֞ן לִפְנִנָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ וּֽלְכׇל־בָּנֶ֛יהָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ מָנֽוֹת׃

5but to Chana he would give one portion only—though Chana was his favorite—for Hashem had closed her womb.

ul-KHA-nah yi-TEN ma-NA a-KHAT a-PA-yim, kee et-kha-NAH a-HAYV va-a-do-NAI sa-GAR ra-KHA-mah

הוּלְחַנָּ֕ה יִתֵּ֛ן מָנָ֥ה אַחַ֖ת אַפָּ֑יִם כִּ֤י אֶת־חַנָּה֙ אָהֵ֔ב וַיהֹוָ֖ה סָגַ֥ר רַחְמָֽהּ׃

6Moreover, her rival, to make her miserable, would taunt her that Hashem had closed her womb.

v'-khi-a-SA-tah tza-RA-tah gam-ka-AHS ba-a-VUR ha-r'-ee-MAH ki-sa-GAR a-do-NAI b'-ad rakh-MAH

ווְכִעֲסַ֤תָּה צָרָתָהּ֙ גַּם־כַּ֔עַס בַּעֲב֖וּר הַרְּעִמָ֑הּ כִּֽי־סָגַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּעַ֥ד רַחְמָֽהּ׃

7This happened year after year: Every time she went up to the House of Hashem, the other would taunt her, so that she wept and would not eat.

v'-khen ya-a-SE sha-NAH b'-sha-NAH mi-DAY a-lo-TAH b'-BAYT a-do-NAI, khen tak-a-SE-nah, va-tiv-KEH v'-lo to-KHAL

זוְכֵ֨ן יַעֲשֶׂ֜ה שָׁנָ֣ה בְשָׁנָ֗ה מִדֵּ֤י עֲלֹתָהּ֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה כֵּ֖ן תַּכְעִסֶ֑נָּה וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תֹאכַֽל׃

8Her husband Elkana said to her, “Chana, why are you crying and why aren't you eating? Why are you so sad? Am I not more devoted to you than ten sons?”

vai-YO-mer LAH el-ka-NAH ee-SHAH, kha-NAH la-MEH ti-v'-KI v'-la-MEH lo to-KHE-LEE, v'-la-MEH ye-RA l'-va-VEKH, ha-LO a-NO-khee TOV LAHKH may-a-sa-RAH ba-NEEM

חוַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָ֜הּ אֶלְקָנָ֣ה אִישָׁ֗הּ חַנָּה֙ לָ֣מֶה תִבְכִּ֗י וְלָ֙מֶה֙ לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְלִ֔י וְלָ֖מֶה יֵרַ֣ע לְבָבֵ֑ךְ הֲל֤וֹא אָֽנֹכִי֙ ט֣וֹב לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲשָׂרָ֖ה בָּנִֽים׃

9After they had eaten and drunk at Shilo, Chana rose.—The Kohen Eli was sitting on the seat near the doorpost of the temple of Hashem.—

va-TA-kom CHA-na a-kha-RAY a-kh'-LAH b'-shi-LO v'-a-kha-RAY sha-TO v'-E-li ha-ko-HAYN yo-SHEV al ha-ki-SAY al m'-zu-ZAT hay-KHAL a-do-NAI

טוַתָּ֣קׇם חַנָּ֔ה אַחֲרֵ֛י אׇכְלָ֥הֿ בְשִׁלֹ֖ה וְאַחֲרֵ֣י שָׁתֹ֑ה וְעֵלִ֣י הַכֹּהֵ֗ן יֹשֵׁב֙ עַל־הַכִּסֵּ֔א עַל־מְזוּזַ֖ת הֵיכַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה׃

10In her wretchedness, she prayed to Hashem, weeping all the while.

v'-HEE ma-RAT NA-fesh va-tit-pa-LAYL al a-do-NAI u-va-KHOH tiv-KEH

יוְהִ֖יא מָ֣רַת נָ֑פֶשׁ וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וּבָכֹ֥ה תִבְכֶּֽה׃

11And she made this vow: “LORD of Hosts, if You will look upon the suffering of Your maidservant and will remember me and not forget Your maidservant, and if You will grant Your maidservant a male child, I will dedicate him to Hashem for all the days of his life; and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

va-ti-DOR NE-der va-to-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT im-RO-ah tir-EH b'-o-NI a-ma-TE-kha u-ze-khar-TA-ni v'-lo-tish-KAkh et-a-ma-TE-kha v'-na-ta-TA la-a-ma-TE-kha ze-RA a-na-SHEEM u-ne-ta-TI-v la-a-do-NAI kol-y'-MEI kha-YAV u-mo-RAH lo-ya-a-LEH al-RO-sho

יאוַתִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר וַתֹּאמַ֗ר יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אִם־רָאֹ֥ה תִרְאֶ֣ה ׀ בׇּעֳנִ֣י אֲמָתֶ֗ךָ וּזְכַרְתַּ֙נִי֙ וְלֹֽא־תִשְׁכַּ֣ח אֶת־אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וְנָתַתָּ֥ה לַאֲמָתְךָ֖ זֶ֣רַע אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וּנְתַתִּ֤יו לַֽיהֹוָה֙ כׇּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֔יו וּמוֹרָ֖ה לֹא־יַעֲלֶ֥ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃

12As she kept on praying before Hashem, Eli watched her mouth.

v'-ha-YA ki hir-B'-ta l'-hit-pa-LAYL lif-NAY a-do-NAI v'-E-li sho-MAYR et-PI-ha

יבוְהָיָה֙ כִּ֣י הִרְבְּתָ֔ה לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְעֵלִ֖י שֹׁמֵ֥ר אֶת־פִּֽיהָ׃

13Now Chana was praying in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

v'-cha-NA hi m'-da-BE-ret al li-BAH, rak s'-fa-TE-ha NA-ot, v'-ko-LA lo yi-sha-ME-a, vai-YA-kh'-she-VE-ha e-LI l'-shi-KO-rah

יגוְחַנָּ֗ה הִ֚יא מְדַבֶּ֣רֶת עַל־לִבָּ֔הּ רַ֚ק שְׂפָתֶ֣יהָ נָּע֔וֹת וְקוֹלָ֖הּ לֹ֣א יִשָּׁמֵ֑עַ וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ עֵלִ֖י לְשִׁכֹּרָֽה׃

14Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up!”

vai-YO-mer e-LE-ha e-LEE ad ma-TAI tish-ta-ka-REEN ha-SEE-ree et ye-NEKH me-a-la-YIKH

ידוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ עֵלִ֔י עַד־מָתַ֖י תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין הָסִ֥ירִי אֶת־יֵינֵ֖ךְ מֵֽעָלָֽיִךְ׃

15And Chana replied, “Oh no, my lord! I am a very unhappy woman. I have drunk no wine or other strong drink, but I have been pouring out my heart to Hashem.

va-TA-an kha-NA va-to-MER: lo a-do-NEE, i-SHA k'-SHAT-ru-AKH a-NO-khi, va-YA-yin v'-she-KHAR lo sha-TEE-tee, va-ESH-pokh et naf-SHEE lif-NAY a-do-NAI.

טווַתַּ֨עַן חַנָּ֤ה וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֲדֹנִ֔י אִשָּׁ֤ה קְשַׁת־ר֙וּחַ֙ אָנֹ֔כִי וְיַ֥יִן וְשֵׁכָ֖ר לֹ֣א שָׁתִ֑יתִי וָאֶשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

16Do not take your maidservant for a worthless woman; I have only been speaking all this time out of my great anguish and distress.”

al-ti-TEN et-a-MA-te-KHA li-F'-nay bat-b'-li-YA-al, ki-m'-ROV see-KHEE v'-kha-a-SEE di-BAR-tee ad-he-NAH

טזאַל־תִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ לִפְנֵ֖י בַּת־בְּלִיָּ֑עַל כִּֽי־מֵרֹ֥ב שִׂיחִ֛י וְכַעְסִ֖י דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי עַד־הֵֽנָּה׃

17“Then go in peace,” said Eli, “and may the God of Yisrael grant you what you have asked of Him.”

vai-YA-an E-li va-YO-mer l'-khi l'-sha-LOM, ve-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL yi-TAYN et-she-la-TEKH a-SHER sha-AL-t'-meh-EE-mo

יזוַיַּ֧עַן עֵלִ֛י וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְכִ֣י לְשָׁל֑וֹם וֵאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל יִתֵּן֙ אֶת־שֵׁ֣לָתֵ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁאַ֖לְתְּ מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃

18She answered, “You are most kind to your handmaid.” So the woman left, and she ate, and was no longer downcast.

va-TOM-er tim-TZA shif-CHA-te-KHA KHEIN b'-EY-ne-KHA va-TE-lekh ha-I-sha l'-dar-KA va-TO-khal u-fa-NE-ha lo-ha-YU-la lo-OD

יחוַתֹּ֕אמֶר תִּמְצָ֧א שִׁפְחָתְךָ֛ חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ וַתֵּ֨לֶךְ הָֽאִשָּׁ֤ה לְדַרְכָּהּ֙ וַתֹּאכַ֔ל וּפָנֶ֥יהָ לֹא־הָֽיוּ־לָ֖הּ עֽוֹד׃

19Early next morning they bowed low before Hashem, and they went back home to Rama. Elkana knew his wife Chana and Hashem remembered her.

vai-YASH-ki-MU va-BO-ker vai-YISH-ta-KHA-vu lif-NEI a-do-NAI vai-YA-shu-VU vai-YA-VO-u el b'-TA-ma ha-ra-MA-ta vai-YE-da EL-ka-NA et-KHA-na ish-TO vai-YIZ-ke-RE-ha a-do-NAI

יטוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ בַבֹּ֗קֶר וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֛בוּ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־בֵּיתָ֖ם הָרָמָ֑תָה וַיֵּ֤דַע אֶלְקָנָה֙ אֶת־חַנָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַֽיִּזְכְּרֶ֖הָ יְהֹוָֽה׃

20Channah conceived, and at the turn of the year bore a son. She named him Shmuel, meaning, “I asked Hashem for him.”

vai-HI l'-t'-KU-vot ha-ya-MEEM, va-TA-har kha-NAH va-TAY-led ben, va-tik-RA et sh'-MO sh'-MU-AYL, KEE may-a-do-NAI sh'-il-TEE-o

כוַֽיְהִי֙ לִתְקֻפ֣וֹת הַיָּמִ֔ים וַתַּ֥הַר חַנָּ֖ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַתִּקְרָ֤א אֶת־שְׁמוֹ֙ שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י מֵיְהֹוָ֖ה שְׁאִלְתִּֽיו׃

21And when the man Elkana and all his household were going up to offer to Hashem the annual sacrifice and his votive sacrifice,

vai-YA-al ha-ISH el-KA-na v'-kol-BAY-to liz-BO-akh la-do-NAI et-ze-VAKH ha-ya-MEEM v'-et-nid-RO

כאוַיַּ֛עַל הָאִ֥ישׁ אֶלְקָנָ֖ה וְכׇל־בֵּית֑וֹ לִזְבֹּ֧חַ לַיהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־זֶ֥בַח הַיָּמִ֖ים וְאֶת־נִדְרֽוֹ׃

22Channah did not go up. She said to her husband, “When the child is weaned, I will bring him. For when he has appeared before Hashem, he must remain there for good.”

v'-cha-NAH lo a-LA-tah, kee a-m'-RAH l'-ee-SHAH, ad yi-ga-MEL ha-na-AHR, va-ha-vee-o-TEE-v, v'-nir-EH et p'-nay a-do-NAI, v'-ya-SHAV sham ad o-LAM

כבוְחַנָּ֖ה לֹ֣א עָלָ֑תָה כִּֽי־אָמְרָ֣ה לְאִישָׁ֗הּ עַ֣ד יִגָּמֵ֤ל הַנַּ֙עַר֙ וַהֲבִאֹתִ֗יו וְנִרְאָה֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וְיָ֥שַׁב שָׁ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

23Her husband Elkana said to her, “Do as you think best. Stay home until you have weaned him. May Hashem fulfill His word.” So the woman stayed home and nursed her son until she weaned him.

vai-YO-mer LAH el-ka-NAH ee-SHAH a-SEE ha-TOV b'-ay-NA-yikh, sh'-VEE ad go-M'-LEKH o-TO, AKH ya-KEM a-do-NAI et d'-va-RO, va-TE-shEV ha-ee-SHAH va-TE-nek et b'-NAH ad go-M'-LAH o-TO.

כגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהּ֩ אֶלְקָנָ֨ה אִישָׁ֜הּ עֲשִׂ֧י הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינַ֗יִךְ שְׁבִי֙ עַד־גׇּמְלֵ֣ךְ אֹת֔וֹ אַ֛ךְ יָקֵ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־דְּבָר֑וֹ וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ וַתֵּ֣ינֶק אֶת־בְּנָ֔הּ עַד־גׇּמְלָ֖הּ אֹתֽוֹ׃

24When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls, one efah of flour, and a jar of wine. And though the boy was still very young, she brought him to the House of Hashem at Shilo.

va-ta-a-LE-hu i-MAH ka-a-SHER g'-ma-LA-tu b'-fa-RIM sh'-LO-sha v'-ei-FAH a-KHAT ke-MACH v'-NE-vel ya-YIN va-t'-vi-E-hu vayt-a-do-NAI shi-LO v'-ha-NA-ar NA-ar

כדוַתַּֽעֲלֵ֨הוּ עִמָּ֜הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר גְּמָלַ֗תּוּ בְּפָרִ֤ים שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ וְאֵיפָ֨ה אַחַ֥ת קֶ֙מַח֙ וְנֵ֣בֶל יַ֔יִן וַתְּבִאֵ֥הוּ בֵית־יְהֹוָ֖ה שִׁל֑וֹ וְהַנַּ֖עַר נָֽעַר׃

25After slaughtering the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.

va-yish-KHA-tu et ha-PAR va-ya-VEE-u et ha-NA-ar el E-li

כהוַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ אֶת־הַפָּ֑ר וַיָּבִ֥אוּ אֶת־הַנַּ֖עַר אֶל־עֵלִֽי׃

26She said, “Please, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you and prayed to Hashem.

va-TOM-er bi a-do-NEE, KHEI naf-sh'-KHA a-do-NEE, a-NEE ha-i-SHA ha-ni-tze-VET i-m'-KHA ba-ZEH l'-hit-pa-LAYL el a-do-NAI

כווַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י חֵ֥י נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אֲדֹנִ֑י אֲנִ֣י הָאִשָּׁ֗ה הַנִּצֶּ֤בֶת עִמְּכָה֙ בָּזֶ֔ה לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה׃

27It was this boy I prayed for; and Hashem has granted me what I asked of Him.

el ha-na-AR ha-ZEH hit-pa-LA-tee, va-YI-ten a-do-NAI LEE et sh'-AY-la-TEE a-SHER sha-al-TEE may-IM-O

כזאֶל־הַנַּ֥עַר הַזֶּ֖ה הִתְפַּלָּ֑לְתִּי וַיִּתֵּ֨ן יְהֹוָ֥ה לִי֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁאַ֖לְתִּי מֵֽעִמּֽוֹ׃

28I, in turn, hereby lend him to Hashem. For as long as he lives he is lent to Hashem.” And they bowed low there before Hashem.

v'-GAM a-NO-khee hish-a-LEE-t'-HU la-do-NAI kol ha-ya-MEEM a-SHER ha-YA HU sha-UL la-do-NAI va-yish-ta-KHU sham la-do-NAI.

כחוְגַ֣ם אָנֹכִ֗י הִשְׁאִלְתִּ֙הוּ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה כׇּל־הַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֔ה ה֥וּא שָׁא֖וּל לַיהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ שָׁ֖ם לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃