1 Samuel - 2

1 - And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2 - There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside 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 the LORD 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 ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6 - The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7 - The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8 - He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.

9 - He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 - The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall 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 the LORD before Eli the priest.

12 - Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

13 - And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

14 - And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

15 - Also 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 sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

16 - And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

17 - Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

18 - But Samuel - ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

19 - Moreover 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 the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

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 - Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel - ; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

23 - And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

24 - Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress.

25 - If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

26 - And the child Samuel - grew on, and was in favour 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 I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt - in Pharaoh's house?

28 - And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel - to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel - ?

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?

30 - Wherefore the LORD God of Israel - saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, 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 thine house.

32 - And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel - : and there shall not be an old man in thine 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 thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

34 - And this shall be a 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 mine 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 thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.