1 Samuel 3

1 The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare and visions were scarce.

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 at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.

3 and the lamp of God hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the LORD's temple, where the ark of God was;

Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.

4 that the LORD called, "Samuel. Samuel." And he said, "Here I am."

Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”

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.

He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 The LORD 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."

Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

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

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 Then the LORD 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 the LORD had called the child.

Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy.

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.

“Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

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

Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

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

Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will 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 I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his family, from beginning to 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.

I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed God and he did not restrain 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 I have sworn to the house of Eli, ‘The iniquity of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 And Samuel lay there until the morning, and in the morning he got up and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.

Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,

16 Then Eli said to Samuel, "Samuel, my son." And he replied, "Here I am."

but Eli called to him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” answered Samuel.

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."

“What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.”

18 And Samuel told him everything, and did not hide anything from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."

So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”

19 So Samuel continued to grow, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fail.

And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

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

So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.

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

And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.