1 Samuel 3

1 Now the young Samuel was the servant of the Lord before Eli. In those days the Lord kept his word secret from men; there was no open vision.

Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest vision.

2 And at that time, when Eli was resting in his place, (now his eyes were becoming clouded so that he was not able to see, )

And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:

3 And the light of God was still burning, while Samuel was sleeping in the Temple of the Lord where the ark of God was,

Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

4 The voice of the Lord said Samuel's name; and he said, Here am I.

And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I.

5 And running to Eli he said, Here am I, for you said my name. And Eli said, I did not say your name; go to your rest again. So he went back to his bed.

And he ran to Heli and said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. He said: I did not call: go back and sleep. And he went and slept.

6 And again the Lord said, Samuel. And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here am I; for you certainly said my name. But he said in answer, I said nothing, my son; go to your rest again.

And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not call thee, my son: return and sleep.

7 Now at that time Samuel had no knowledge of the Lord, and the revelation of the word of the Lord had not come to him.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.

8 And for the third time the Lord said Samuel's name. And he got up and went to Eli and said, Here am I; for you certainly said my name. Then it was clear to Eli that the voice which had said the child's name was the Lord's.

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up and went to Heli.

9 So Eli said to Samuel, Go back: and if the voice comes again, let your answer be, Say on, Lord; for the ears of your servant are open. So Samuel went back to his bed.

And said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep: and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place.

10 Then the Lord came and said as before, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel made answer, Say on, Lord; for the ears of your servant are open.

And the Lord came and stood: and he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.

11 And the Lord said to Samuel, See, I will do a thing in Israel at which the ears of everyone hearing of it will be burning.

And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.

12 In that day I will do to Eli everything which I have said about his family, from first to last.

In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.

13 And you are to say to him that I will send punishment on his family for ever, for the sin which he had knowledge of; because his sons have been cursing God and he had no control over them.

For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for ever, for iniquity, because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did not chastise them.

14 So I have made an oath to the family of Eli that no offering of meat or of meal which they may make will ever take away the sin of his family.

Therefore have I sworn to the house of Heli, that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever.

15 And Samuel kept where he was, not moving till the time came for opening the doors of the house of God in the morning. And fear kept him from giving Eli an account of his vision.

And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Heli.

16 Then Eli said, Samuel, my son. And Samuel answering said, Here am I.

Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he answered: Here am I.

17 And he said, What did the Lord say to you? Do not keep it from me: may God's punishment be on you if you keep from me anything he said to you.

And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to thee? I beseech thee hide it not from me. May God do so and so to thee, and add so and so, if thou hide from me one word of all that were said to thee.

18 Then Samuel gave him an account of everything, keeping nothing back. And he said, It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.

So Samuel told him all the words, and did not hide them from him. And he answered: It is the Lord: let him do what is good in his sight.

19 And Samuel became older, and the Lord was with him and let not one of his words be without effect.

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his words fell to the ground.

20 And it was clear to all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba that Samuel had been made a prophet of the Lord.

And all Israel from Dan to Bersabee, knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord.

21 And the Lord was seen again in Shiloh; for the Lord gave to Samuel in Shiloh the revelation of his word.

And the Lord again appeared in Silo, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of Samuel came to pass to all Israel.