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

Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; there was no frequent or widely spread vision.

2 A t 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 Eli, whose eyesight had dimmed so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.

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

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

4 Y ahweh called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”

When the Lord called, Samuel! And he answered, Here I am.

5 H e 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.

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

6 Y ahweh 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 the Lord called again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I; you did call me. Eli answered, I did not call, my son; lie down again.

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

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord was not yet revealed to him.

8 Y ahweh 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.

And the Lord called Samuel the third time. And he went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy.

9 T herefore 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.

So Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down. And if He calls you, you shall say, Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

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

And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.

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

The Lord told Samuel, Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of all who hear it shall tingle.

12 I n 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 perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

13 F or 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 I announce to him that I will judge and punish his house forever for the iniquity of which he knew, for his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves, and he did not restrain them.

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

Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for or purged with sacrifice or offering forever.

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

Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. And was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.

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

But Eli called Samuel and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here I am.

17 H e 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.”

Eli said, What is it He told you? Pray do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that He said to you.

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

And Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing. And Eli said, It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him.

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

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

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

And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.

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

And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the word of the Lord.