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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.”

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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, See, I will do a thing in Israel at which the ears of everyone hearing of it will be burning.

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 do to Eli everything which I have said about his family, from first to last.

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 didn’t restrain them.

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.

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.”

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.

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 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.

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

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

17 He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don’t 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 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.

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.”

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.

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

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

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

And it was clear to all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba that Samuel had been made 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 was seen again in Shiloh; for the Lord gave to Samuel in Shiloh the revelation of his word.