1 Samuel 3

1 The child Samuel ministered to Jehovah before Eli. The word of Jehovah was rare in those days; there was no frequent 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 It happened at that time, when Eli was lying 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 Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:

3 and the lamp of God hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in Jehovah's temple, 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 that Jehovah called, "Samuel. Samuel." And he said, "Here I am."

And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: 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 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 Jehovah called yet again, "Samuel. Samuel." And he got up 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 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 Samuel did not yet know God, neither was the word of Jehovah yet revealed to him.

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

8 Then Jehovah called Samuel again the third time, and he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli realized that Jehovah had called the child.

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

9 So he said, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, reply, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" Then Samuel went and lay down in his place.

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 And Jehovah came and stood, and called as at other times. Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

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 Jehovah said to Samuel, "Look, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle.

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

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 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons were cursing God, and he did not restrain 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 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be removed with sacrifice nor offering forever."

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 lay there until the morning, and in the morning he got up and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the 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 to Samuel, "Samuel, my son." And he replied, "Here I am."

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

17 He said, "What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do thus to you if you hide anything from me of all the words that he spoke to you in your ears."

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 And Samuel told him everything, and did not hide anything from him. And he said, "It is Jehovah. 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 So Samuel continued to grow, and Jehovah was with him and let none of his words fail.

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

20 Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of Jehovah.

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

21 And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh, for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel.

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.