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.

The child Samuel served Yahweh under Eli. Yahweh's word was rare in those days; there was no frequent prophetic 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),

At that time, when Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see well, was lying down in his own bed.

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,

The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down to sleep in the temple of Yahweh, where the ark of God was.

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

Yahweh called to Samuel, who said, “Here I am.”

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.

Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Eli said, “I did not call you; lie down again.” So Samuel went and lay down.

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.”

Yahweh called again, “Samuel.” Again Samuel rose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son; lie down again.”

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

Now Samuel did not yet have any experience of Yahweh, nor had any message from Yahweh ever been revealed 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.

Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. Again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli realized that Yahweh had called the boy.

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.

Then Eli said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again; if he calls you again, you must say, 'Speak, Yahweh, for your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his own place once more.

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

Yahweh came and stood; he called as at the other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

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.

Yahweh said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of everyone who hears 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 said about his house, 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 brought a curse on themselves, and he didn’t restrain them.

I have told him that I am about to judge his house once for all for the sin that he knew about, because his sons brought a curse upon themselves and he did not stop 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.”

Because of this I have sworn to the house of Eli that the sins of his house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.”

15 Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the LORD’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.

Samuel lay down until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.

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

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

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.”

He said, “What was the word he spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and even more, if you hide anything from me of all the words that he spoke 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.”

Samuel told him everything; he hid nothing from him. Eli said, “It is Yahweh. 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.

Samuel grew up, and Yahweh was with him, and he let none of his prophetic words fall to the ground.

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

All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was appointed to be a prophet of Yahweh.

21 The LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the LORD’s word.

Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh, for he revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by his word.