1 Samuel 2

All 36 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; my strength is lifted up in the LORD. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation."
2. 2No one is holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you, and there is no rock like our God.
3. 3"Stop speaking with such arrogance. Don't let proud words come out of your mouth, because the LORD is a God who knows everything, and he weighs every action.
4. 4"The bows of mighty warriors are shattered, but those who stumbled are now armed with strength.
5. 5Those who once had plenty are now hiring themselves out for bread, while those who were hungry are hungry no more. The woman who was barren has given birth to seven children, but the mother of many has grown weak.
6. 6"The LORD brings death and gives life. He sends people down to the grave and raises them up again.
7. 7"The LORD makes some poor and others rich. He humbles some and lifts others up.
8. 8He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage heap, to seat them among princes and make them inherit a throne of glory. The pillars of the earth belong to the LORD, and he has set the world upon them.
9. 9He will keep the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silent in darkness, for by strength no man will prevail.
10. 10"Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven. The LORD will judge the entire earth. He will give strength to his king and lift up the power of his anointed."
11. 11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, and the boy served the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.
12. 12Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they did not know the LORD.
13. 13The priests' custom with the people was that whenever someone offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come while the meat was boiling, holding a three-pronged fork in his hand.
14. 14He would jab the fork into the pan, kettle, cauldron, or pot, and whatever the fork pulled out, the priest kept for himself. This is what they did to every Israelite who came to worship at Shiloh.
15. 15Before they burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, 'Give meat to roast for the priest; he will not accept boiled meat from you, only raw.'
16. 16If the person said, "Let the fat be burned first as it should be, and then take whatever you want," the servant would reply, "No — hand it over right now, or I'll take it by force."
17. 17The sin of these young men was extremely serious in the LORD's eyes, because they were treating the LORD's offerings with contempt.
18. 18Meanwhile, young Samuel served before the LORD, wearing a linen ephod.
19. 19Each year his mother would make him a small robe and bring it to him when she and her husband came up for the annual sacrifice.
20. 20Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the LORD give you children from this woman for the loan that is lent to the LORD." Then they returned to their home.
21. 21And the LORD visited Hannah, so she became pregnant and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
22. 22Eli was now very old, and he kept hearing about everything his sons were doing to the people of Israel — including how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
23. 23He confronted them: "Why are you doing these things? Everyone is telling me about your wicked behavior.
24. 24"Stop this, my sons! The reports I'm hearing are terrible. You are leading the LORD's people into sin.
25. 25If one person sins against another, the judge will judge him. But if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him? Yet, they did not listen to their father's voice, because the LORD intended to put them to death.
26. 26The boy Samuel, however, continued to grow in stature and in favor with both the LORD and with people.
27. 27A man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father's house when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?'"
28. 28"I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest — to approach my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the ephod in my presence. I also gave your family all the fire offerings brought by the people of Israel.
29. 29Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering, which I have commanded in my dwelling place, and honor your sons above me, making yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of my people Israel?
30. 30Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I did indeed promise that your family and your father's family would walk before me forever. But now the LORD says: Far be it from me; those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.'
31. 31"'The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's family, so that no one in your line will grow old.
32. 32You will see an enemy in my dwelling, despite all the wealth God gives Israel, and there will never be an old man in your family.
33. 33Any of your descendants whom I do not cut off from my altar will cause your eyes to fail and your heart to grieve. All the offspring of your house will die in the prime of their life.
34. 34"And here is the sign that will prove this to you: both of your sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will die on the same day.
35. 35"Then I will raise up for myself a faithful priest who will do what is in my heart and mind. I will establish his family line, and he will serve before my anointed one forever.
36. 36"Everyone left in your family will come and bow before that priest, begging for a piece of silver or a scrap of bread, saying, 'Please, give me a position among the priests so I can have something to eat.'"