1 N ow 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.

The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. Yahweh’s word was precious in those days. There visions were not frequent.

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

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),

3 T he 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.

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

4 T hen the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel said, “Here I am.”

Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”

5 H e 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.

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.

6 T he 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.”

Yahweh 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.”

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

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

8 T he 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.

Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.

9 E li 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.

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

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

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

11 T he 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.

Yahweh said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

12 O n that day I will do all I have said I will do against the family of Eli.

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

13 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.

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.

14 S o 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.”

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.”

15 S amuel 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.

Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of Yahweh’s house. Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

16 E li called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And Samuel said, “Here I am.”

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

17 E li 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.”

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.”

18 S o 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.”

Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.”

19 S amuel grew. And the Lord was with him and made everything he said come true.

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

20 A ll Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had become a man of God.

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

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

Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh; for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by Yahweh’s word.