Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

1 Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart rejoices and triumphs in the Lord;
My horn (strength) is lifted up in the Lord,
My mouth has opened wide [to speak boldly] against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2

“There is no one holy like the Lord,
There is no one besides You,
There is no Rock like our God.
3

“Do not go on boasting so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
And by Him actions are weighed (examined).
4

“The bows of the mighty are (a)broken,
But those who have stumbled equip themselves with strength.
5

“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease [to hunger].
Even the barren [woman] gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children withers away.
6

“The Lord puts to death and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol (the grave) and raises up [from the grave].
7

“The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and He lifts up.
8

“He raises up the poor from the dust,
He lifts up the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor and glory;
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the land on them.
9

“He guards the feet of His godly (faithful) ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced and perish in darkness;
For a man shall not prevail by might.
10

“The adversaries of the Lord will be broken to pieces;
He will thunder against them in the heavens,
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His (b)king,
And will exalt the horn (strength) of His anointed.”(A)

Footnotes:

a. 1 Samuel 2:4: Or filled with terror.
b. 1 Samuel 2:10: This would first apply to Saul, whom Samuel would anoint as king of Israel (10:1), and then to David (16:13) and other earthly kings. Ultimately it can be applied to Christ, who will rule over Israel and the world.

Cross references: