Samuel Given to the Lord
21 The man Elkanah and all his house fwent up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,1 gan ephah2 of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”
And he worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah’s Prayer
1 And Hannah prayed and said,
h“My heart exults in the Lord;
imy horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
2 “There is jnone kholy like the Lord:
for there is lnone besides you;
there is mno rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were nfull have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 oThe Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and praises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
qhe brings low and he exalts.
8 rHe raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for snot by might shall a man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be tbroken to pieces;
against them he will uthunder in heaven.
The Lord will vjudge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy3 wwas ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
Eli’s Worthless Sons
12 Now the sons of Eli xwere yworthless men. They zdid not know the Lord. 13 aThe custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, before the bfat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” 16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
Bear One Another’s Burdens
1 Brothers,1 tif anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him uin a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 vBear one another’s burdens, wand so fulfill the xlaw of Christ. 3 yFor if anyone zthinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But alet each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
6 bLet the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for cwhatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And dlet us not grow weary eof doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not fgive up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, glet us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the hhousehold of faith.
Final Warning and Benediction
11 iSee with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would jforce you to be circumcised, and only kin order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised ldo not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast mexcept in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which2 the world has been crucified to me, and nI to the world. 15 oFor neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a pnew creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon qthe Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
