So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? ^aAm I not more to you than ten sons?”

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of ^bthe temple of the Lord.

She was ^cdeeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

And she ^dvowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed ^elook on the affliction of your servant and ^fremember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, ^gand no razor shall touch his head.”

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.

Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.

And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”