1 N ow the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli. And word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.

Now the boy Samuel was working for the Lord with Eli. There were few words from the Lord given in those days, and there were not many special dreams.

2 I t happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well ),

At that time Eli was lying down in his own place. His eyes had become weak and he could not see well.

3 a nd the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was,

The lamp of God had not gone out yet. And Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord where the special box of God was.

4 t hat the Lord called Samuel; and he said, “ Here I am.”

Then the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel said, “Here I am.”

5 T hen he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

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

6 T he Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.”

The Lord called again, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Lie down again.”

7 N ow Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him.

Now Samuel did not know the Lord yet. And the Word of the Lord had not been made known to him.

8 S o the Lord called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the Lord was calling the boy.

The Lord called Samuel again for the third time. He got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy.

9 A nd Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

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

10 T hen the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Then the Lord came and stood and called as He did the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

11 T he Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

The Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do a thing in Israel which will make both ears of everyone who hears it feel strange.

12 I n that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

On that day I will do all I have said I will do against the family of Eli.

13 F or I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.

I have told him that I will punish his family forever for the sin he knew about. Because his sons brought the sin upon themselves, and Eli did not stop them.

14 T herefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

So I swear to the family of Eli that the sin of his family will not be paid for with gifts given on the altar forever.”

15 S o Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.

Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the special dream.

16 T hen Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.”

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

17 H e said, “What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you.”

Eli said, “What did the Lord tell you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more, if you hide anything from me of all He said to you.”

18 S o Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “ It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him.”

So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And Eli said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”

19 T hus Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fail.

Samuel grew. And the Lord was with him and made everything he said come true.

20 A ll Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord.

All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had become a man of God.

21 A nd the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, because the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

The Lord came again to Shiloh. For the Lord made Himself known to Samuel at Shiloh, by the Word of the Lord.