1 Samuel 2

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Hannah then prayed as fol ows: My heart exults in Yahweh, in my God is my strength lifted up, mymouth derides my foes, for I rejoice in your deliverance.	1 and as she worshiped the LORD, she said:
2 There is no Holy One like Yahweh, (indeed, there is none but you) no Rock like our God.	2 There is no Holy One like the LORD;
3 Do not keep talking so proudly, let no arrogance come from your mouth, for Yahweh is a wise God, histo weigh up deeds.	3 "Speak boastfully no longer,
4 The bow of the mighty has been broken but those who were tottering are now braced with strength.	4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
5 The ful fed are hiring themselves out for bread but the hungry need labour no more; the barren womanbears sevenfold but the mother of many is left desolate.	5 he well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
6 Yahweh gives death and life, brings down to Sheol and draws up;	6 "The LORD puts to death and gives life;
7 Yahweh makes poor and rich, he humbles and also exalts.	7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
8 He raises the poor from the dust, he lifts the needy from the dunghil to give them a place with princes,to assign them a seat of honour; for to Yahweh belong the pil ars of the earth, on these he has poised the world.	8 He raises the needy from the dust;
9 He safeguards the steps of his faithful but the wicked vanish in darkness (for human strength can winno victories).	9 He will guard the footsteps of his faithful ones,
10 Yahweh, his enemies are shattered, the Most High thunders in the heavens. Yahweh judges the endsof the earth, he endows his king with power, he raises up the strength of his Anointed.	10 the LORD'S foes shall be shattered.
11 Elkanah then went home to Ramah, but the child stayed in Yahweh's service, in the presence of Elithe priest.	11 When Elkanah returned home to Ramah, the child remained in the service of the LORD under the priest Eli.
12 Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels; they cared nothing for Yahweh	12 Now the sons of Eli were wicked; they had respect neither for the LORD
13 nor for what was due to the priests from the people. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest'sservant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being cooked;	13 nor for the priests' duties toward the people. When someone offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fork, while the meat was still boiling,
14 he would thrust this into cauldron or pan, or dish or pot, and the priest claimed for his own whateverthe fork brought up. That was how they behaved with all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.	14 and would thrust it into the basin, kettle, caldron, or pot. Whatever the fork brought up, the priest would keep. That is how all the Israelites were treated who came to the sanctuary at Shiloh.
15 The priest's servant would even come up before the fat had been burnt and say to the person whowas making the sacrifice, 'Give the priest some meat for him to roast. He wil not accept boiled meat from you,only raw.'	15 In fact, even before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man offering the sacrifice, "Give me some meat to roast for the priest. He will not accept boiled meat from you, only raw meat."
16 Then, if the person replied, 'Let the fat be burnt first, and then take for yourself whatever you choose,'he would retort, 'No! You must give it to me now or I shal take it by force.'	16 And if the man protested to him, "Let the fat be burned first as is the custom, then take whatever you wish," he would reply, "No, give it to me now, or else I will take it by force."
17 The young men's sin was very great in Yahweh's eyes, because they treated with contempt theoffering made to Yahweh.	17 Thus the young men sinned grievously in the presence of the LORD; they treated the offerings to the LORD with disdain.
18 Samuel was in Yahweh's service, a child wearing a linen loincloth.	18 Meanwhile the boy Samuel, girt with a linen apron, was serving in the presence of the LORD.
19 His mother used to make him a little coat which she brought him each year when she came up withher husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.	19 His mother used to make a little garment for him, which she would bring him each time she went up with her husband to offer the customary sacrifice.
20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, 'May Yahweh grant you an heir by this woman inexchange for the one which she has made over to Yahweh,' and they would go home.	20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, as they were leaving for home. He would say, "May the LORD repay you with children from this woman for the gift she has made to the LORD!"
21 Yahweh visited Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile,the child Samuel grew up in Yahweh's presence.	21 The LORD favored Hannah so that she conceived and gave birth to three more sons and two daughters, while young Samuel grew up in the service of the LORD.
22 Although very old, Eli heard about everything that his sons were doing to all Israel,	22 When Eli was very old, he heard repeatedly how his sons were treating all Israel (and that they were having relations with the women serving at the entry of the meeting tent).
23 and said, 'Why are you behaving as al the people say you are?	23 So he said to them: "Why are you doing such things?
24 No, my sons, what I hear reported by the people of Yahweh is not good.	24 No, my sons, you must not do these things! It is not a good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading about you.
25 If one person sins against another, God will be the arbiter, but if he sins against Yahweh, who wilintercede for him?' But they did not listen to their father's words, for Yahweh was bent on kil ing them.	25 If a man sins against another man, one can intercede for him with the LORD; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they disregarded their father's warning, since the LORD had decided on their death.
26 Meanwhile, the child Samuel went on growing in stature and in favour both with Yahweh and withpeople.	26 Meanwhile, young Samuel was growing in stature and in worth in the estimation of the LORD and of men.
27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him, 'This is what Yahweh says, "Did I not reveal myself to yourfather's family when they were in Egypt as slaves in Pharaoh's household?	27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him: "This is what the LORD says: 'I went so far as to reveal myself to your father's family when they were in Egypt as slaves to the house of Pharaoh.
28 Did I not single him out of al the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn theoffering, to carry the ephod in my presence; and did I not grant al the burnt offerings made by the Israelites toyour father's family?	28 I chose them out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priests, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the ephod before me; and I assigned all the oblations of the Israelites to your father's family.
29 Why do you trample on the offering and on the sacrifice which I have ordered for my Dwelling, andhonour your sons more than me, by growing fat on the best of the offerings of Israel, my people?	29 Why do you keep a greedy eye on my sacrifices and on the offerings which I have prescribed? And why do you honor your sons in preference to me, fattening yourselves with the choicest part of every offering of my people Israel?'
30 Whereas -- this is what Yahweh, God of Israel, declares -- I had promised that your family and yourfather's family would walk in my presence for ever, now, however -- this is what Yahweh declares -- nothing ofthe sort! Those who honour me I honour in my turn, and those who despise me wil be an object of contempt.	30 This, therefore, is the oracle of the LORD, the God of Israel: 'I said in the past that your family and your father's family should minister in my presence forever. But now,' the LORD declares, 'away with this! for I will honor those who honor me, but those who spurn me shall be accursed.
31 Be sure, the days are coming when I shal cut off your strength and the strength of your father's family,so that no one in your family wil live to old age.	31 Yes, the time is coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father's family, so that no man in your family shall reach old age.
32 Beside the Dwel ing, you wil see al the benefits that I shall confer on Israel, but no one in your familywil ever live to old age.	32 You shall witness as a disappointed rival all the benefits enjoyed by Israel, but there shall never be an old man in your family.
33 I shal keep one of you at my altar for his eyes to go blind and his soul to wither, but the bulk of yourfamily wil die by the sword.	33 I will permit some of your family to remain at my altar, to wear out their eyes in consuming greed; but the rest of the men of your family shall die by the sword.
34 ' "What happens to your two sons Hophni and Phinehas will be a sign for you: on the same day bothwil die.	34 You shall have a sign in what will happen to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: both shall die on the same day.
35 I shal raise myself a faithful priest, who wil do as I intend and as I desire. I shal build him an enduringHouse and he wil walk in the presence of my Anointed for ever.	35 I will choose a faithful priest who shall do what I have in heart and mind. I will establish a lasting house for him which shall function in the presence of my anointed forever.
36 The members of your House who survive wil come and beg him on their knees for a silver coin and aloaf of bread and say: Please give me some priestly work, so that I can have a scrap of bread to eat." '	36 Then whoever is left of your family will come to grovel before him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and will say: Appoint me, I beg you, to a priestly function, that I may have a morsel of bread to eat.'"