1 samuel 1 good news bible

Here is the book of 1 Samuel 1 from the Good News Bible (GNB):

1 Samuel 1

Hannah's Prayer

1 There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim. He was a wealthy man and had a wife named Hannah. But Hannah was unable to have children.

2 Elkanah had another wife, a woman named Peninnah, who would tease Hannah and make her feel bad because she couldn't have children. 3 Year after year Elkanah would go to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord. Hannah would go along, but Peninnah would tease her and make her feel bad.

4 One day Hannah went to the Lord and prayed, "Oh, Lord, you are a God who sees. You see me and know my heart. I have been praying for this day for a long time. 5 I have been praying for a son to inherit your throne and to serve you. 6 I have made a promise to you, Lord. If you give me a son, I will give him back to you for as long as he lives. He will be dedicated to your service."

7 Hannah was praying silently, but her lips were moving. Eli, the priest, was sitting on a chair near the entrance of the Lord's temple. 8 Hannah was praying silently, but Eli could see her lips moving. He thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long are you going to stay drunk? Get control of yourself!"

9 Hannah replied, "Oh, no, sir! I'm not drunk. I'm just praying to the Lord. 10 I'm deeply troubled and have been praying to the Lord. I have been praying for this day for a long time."

11 Eli replied, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."

12 Hannah said, "I'm going to have a son, and I will give him back to the Lord for as long as he lives. He will be dedicated to your service."

The Birth of Samuel

13 Hannah continued to pray and worship the Lord. She had a son, and she named him Samuel, which means "heard by God." 14 Hannah prayed to the Lord and said, "I will give him back to you for as long as he lives. He will be dedicated to your service."

15 Hannah took her son Samuel to Eli and said, "I'm giving him to you. He is dedicated to the Lord. Do whatever you think is best for him." Eli blessed Hannah and said, "May the Lord be with you, my child. May he be with you and give you many more children."

16 Hannah and her husband Elkanah worshiped the Lord, and they went back to their home in Ramah.

17 The boy Samuel grew up, and he was dedicated to the Lord, just as Hannah had promised. He served the Lord under Eli's guidance.

18 Now the boy Samuel was helping Eli with his duties at the Lord's temple. 19 One day Eli was sitting on his chair near the entrance of the temple, and Samuel was helping him. 20 The Lord came and stood there, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!"

21 Samuel replied, "I'm here! I'm here!" 22 Eli said, "I called you, Samuel. Why didn't you come when I called you?"

23 Samuel replied, "I was helping Eli with his duties. I didn't know you called me."

24 Eli said, "The Lord is calling you. Go and lie down. If he calls you again, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'"

25 Samuel lay down where he was, and the Lord came and stood there, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!"

26 Samuel replied, "I'm here! I'm here! Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

27 The Lord said to Samuel, "Look, I am going to do something in Israel that will make everyone's ears perk up. 28 I will appoint a new king for my people Israel. He will be one of your own family, and you will anoint him to be the leader of my people Israel."

29 All of this happened at the time when the Philistines were at war with Israel.