1 Samuel 3

1 The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The LORD’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then.

And the lad Samuel was ministering unto the Lord before 'Eli. And the word of the Lord was scarce in those days: prophecy was not extended.

2 At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),

And it came to pass one day, when 'Eli was lying down in his place, and his eyes had begun to grow dim, he could not see;

3 and God’s lamp had not yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in the LORD’s temple where God’s ark was,

And the lamp of God had not yet gone out, while Samuel was lying down in [the hall of] the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was;

4 The LORD called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.”

That the Lord called Samuel: and he said, Here am I.

5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I did not call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down.

And he ran unto 'Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he said, I did not call: lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6 The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son. Lie down again.”

And the Lord continued to call again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to 'Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I did not call, my son: lie down again.

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the LORD’s word yet revealed to him.

And Samuel knew not yet the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord been as yet revealed unto him.

8 The LORD called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

And the Lord continued to call, Samuel, the third time; and he arose and went to 'Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And 'Eli then perceived that the Lord was calling the lad.

9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

And 'Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. And Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”

And the Lord came, and placed himself, and called as at previous times, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

11 The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.

On that day will I fulfill on 'Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin and finish.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he did not restrain them.

And I tell him that I will judge his house for ever; for the iniquity that he knew that his sons were drawing a curse on themselves, and he restrained them not.

14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.”

And therefore have I sworn unto the house of 'Eli, that the iniquity of 'Eli's house shall not be atoned for with sacrifice or meat-offering for ever.

15 Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the LORD’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.

And Samuel lay until the morning, when he opened the doors of the house of the Lord; and Samuel feared to tell the vision unto 'Eli.

16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.”

But 'Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.

17 He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.”

And he said, What is the word which he hath spoken unto thee? do not, I pray thee, conceal it from me: may God do to thee thus, and continue to do so, if thou conceal any thing from me of all the word that he hath spoken unto thee.

18 Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”

And Samuel told him all the words, and concealed nothing from him. And he said, He is the Lord: let him do what seemeth good in his eyes.

19 Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

And Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, and he did not let fall any one of all his words to the ground.

20 All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

And thus knew all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba' that Samuel was accredited as a prophet of the Lord.

21 The LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the LORD’s word.

And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh; for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.