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.

And the child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open 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 at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax 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,

And before the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

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

That 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 Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

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 yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

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 was the word of the LORD yet 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 and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

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.

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call you, that you shall say, Speak, LORD; for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down 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 called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for your servant hears.

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 will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that hears it 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 perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also 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 told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knows; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

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.

And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering 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 lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

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

Then Eli 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 said, What is the thing that the LORD has said to you? I pray you hide it not from me: God do so to you, and more also, if you hide any thing from me of all the things that he said to you.

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.

And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seems him good.

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 did let none of his words fall 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 even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a 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 appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.