Rosh Hashanah

| Rosh Hashanah Posted On Jan 1, 1980 | Haftarah Reading
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This translation was taken from the JPS Tanakh

Day 1

I Samuel 1:1 – 2:10 

Chapter 1
1 There was a man from Ramathaim of the Zuphites, in the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. 3This man used to go up from his town every year to worship and to offer sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh. — Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord there.

4 One such day, Elkanah offered a sacrifice. He used to give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5 but to Hannah he would give one portion only — though Hannah was his favorite — for the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Moreover, her rival, to make her miserable, would taunt her that the Lord had closed her womb. 7 This happened year after year: Every time she went up to the House of the Lord, the other would taunt her, so that she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why are you crying and why aren’t you eating? Why are you so sad? Am I not more devoted to you than ten sons?”

9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose. — The priest Eli was sitting on the seat near the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. — 10 In her wretchedness, she prayed to the Lord, weeping all the while. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Hosts, if You will look upon the suffering of Your maidservant and will remember me and not forget Your maidservant, and if You will grant Your maidservant a male child, I will dedicate him to the Lord for all the days of his life; and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

12 As she kept on praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah was praying in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 14 Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up!” 15 And Hannah replied, “Oh no, my lord! I am a very unhappy woman. I have drunk no wine or other strong drink, but I have been pouring out my heart to the Lord. 16 Do not take your maidservant for a worthless woman; I have only been speaking all this time out of my great anguish and distress.” 17 “Then go in peace,” said Eli, “and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him.” 18 She answered, “You are most kind to your handmaid.” So the woman left, and she ate, and was no longer downcast. 19 Early next morning they bowed low before the Lord, and they went back home to Ramah.

Elkanah knew his wife Hannah and the Lord remembered her. 20 Hannah conceived, and at the turn of the year bore a son. She named him Samuel, meaning, “I asked the Lord for him.” 21 And when the man Elkanah and all his household were going up to offer to the Lord the annual sacrifice and his votive sacrifice, 22 Hannah did not go up. She said to her husband, “When the child is weaned, I will bring him. For when he has appeared before the Lord, he must remain there for good.” 23 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Do as you think best. Stay home until you have weaned him. May the Lord fulfill His word.” So the woman stayed home and nursed her son until she weaned him.

24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a jar of wine. And though the boy was still very young, she brought him to the House of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 After slaughtering the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. 26 She said, “Please, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you and prayed to the Lord. 27 It was this boy I prayed for; and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. 28I, in turn, hereby lend him to the Lord. For as long as he lives he is lent to the Lord.” And they bowed low there before the Lord.

Chapter 2
1 And Hannah prayed:

My heart exults in the Lord;
I have triumphed through the Lord.
I gloat over my enemies;
I rejoice in Your deliverance.
2 There is no holy one like the Lord,
Truly, there is none beside You;
There is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more with lofty pride,
Let no arrogance cross your lips!
For the Lord is an all-knowing God;
By Him actions are measured.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
And the faltering are girded with strength.
5 Men once sated must hire out for bread;
Men once hungry hunger no more.
While the barren woman bears seven,
The mother of many is forlorn.
6 The Lord deals death and gives life,
Casts down into Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
He casts down, He also lifts high.
8 He raises the poor from the dust,
Lifts up the needy from the dunghill,
Setting them with nobles,
Granting them seats of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s;
He has set the world upon them.
9 He guards the steps of His faithful,
But the wicked perish in darkness —
For not by strength shall man prevail.
10 The foes of the Lord shall be shattered;
He will thunder against them in the heavens.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give power to His king,
And triumph to His anointed one.

Day 2

2 Thus said the Lord:
The people escaped from the sword,
Found favor in the wilderness;
When Israel was marching homeward
3 The Lord revealed Himself to me of old.
Eternal love I conceived for you then;
Therefore I continue My grace to you.
4 I will build you firmly again,
O Maiden Israel!
Again you shall take up your timbrels
And go forth to the rhythm of the dancers.
5 Again you shall plant vineyards
On the hills of Samaria;
Men shall plant and live to enjoy them.
6 For the day is coming when watchmen
Shall proclaim on the heights of Ephraim:
Come, let us go up to Zion,
To the Lord our God!
7 For thus said the Lord:
Cry out in joy for Jacob,
Shout at the crossroads of the nations!
Sing aloud in praise, and say:
Save, O Lord, Your people,
The remnant of Israel.
8 I will bring them in from the northland,
Gather them from the ends of the earth–
The blind and the lame among them,
Those with child and those in labor–
In a vast throng they shall return here.
9 They shall come with weeping,
And with compassion will I guide them.
I will lead them to streams of water,
By a level road where they will not stumble.
For I am ever a Father to Israel,
Ephraim is My first-born.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
And tell it in the isles afar.
Say:
He who scattered Israel will gather them,
And will guard them as a shepherd his flock.
11 For the Lord will ransom Jacob,
Redeem him from one too strong for him.
12 They shall come and shout on the heights of Zion,
Radiant over the bounty of the Lord–
Over new grain and wine and oil,
And over sheep and cattle.
They shall fare like a watered garden,
They shall never languish again.
13 Then shall maidens dance gaily,
Young men and old alike.
I will turn their mourning to joy,
I will comfort them and cheer them in their grief.
14 I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
And My people shall enjoy My full bounty
— declares the Lord:
15 Thus said the Lord:
A cry is heard in Ramah–
Wailing, bitter weeping–
Rachel weeping for her children.
She refuses to be comforted
For her children, who are gone.
16 Thus said the Lord:
Restrain your voice from weeping,
Your eyes from shedding tears;
For there is a reward for your labor
— declares the Lord:
They shall return from the enemy’s land.
17 And there is hope for your future
— declares the Lord:
Your children shall return to their country.
18 I can hear Ephraim lamenting:
You have chastised me, and I am chastised
Like a calf that has not been broken.
Receive me back, let me return,
For You, O Lord, are my God.
19 Now that I have turned back, I am filled with remorse;
Now that I am made aware, I strike my thigh.
I am ashamed and humiliated,
For I bear the disgrace of my youth.
20 Truly, Ephraim is a dear son to Me,
A child that is dandled!
Whenever I have turned against him,
My thoughts would dwell on him still.
That is why My heart yearns for him;
I will receive him back in love
— declares the Lord —

Taken from Tanakh, The Holy Scriptures, (Philadelphia, Jerusalem: Jewish Publication Society) 1985.
Used by permission of The Jewish Publication Society. Copyright © 1962, 1992
Third Edition by the Jewish Publication Society.
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