I Samuel 3

1Young Samuel was in the service of GOD under Eli. In those days the word of GOD was rare; prophecy was not widespread.

2One day, Eli was asleep in his usual place; his eyes had begun to fail and he could barely see.

3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of GOD where the Ark of God was.

4GOD called out to Samuel, and he answered, “I’m coming.”

5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But he replied, “I didn’t call you; go back to sleep.” So he went back and lay down.

6Again GOD called, “Samuel!” Samuel rose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But he replied, “I didn’t call, my son; go back to sleep.”—

7Now Samuel had not yet experienced GOD; the word of GOD had not yet been revealed to him.—

8GOD called Samuel again, a third time, and he rose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that GOD was calling the boy.

9And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down. If you are called again, say, ‘Speak, GOD, for Your servant is listening.’” And Samuel went to his place and lay down.

10GOD started communicating, calling as before: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

11GOD said to Samuel: “I am going to do in Israel such a thing that both ears of anyone who hears about it will tingle.

12In that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I spoke concerning his house, from beginning to end.

13And I declare to him that I sentence his house to endless punishment for the iniquity he knew about—how his sons committed sacrilege at will—and he did not rebuke them.

14Assuredly, I swear concerning the house of Eli that the iniquity of the house of Eli will never be expiated by sacrifice or offering.”

15Samuel lay there until morning; and then he opened the doors of the House of GOD. Samuel was afraid to report the vision to Eli,

16but Eli summoned Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son”; and he answered, “Here.”

17And [Eli] asked, “What did [God] say to you? Keep nothing from me. Thus and more may God do to you if you keep from me a single word of all that was said to you!”

18Samuel then told him everything, withholding nothing from him. And [Eli] said, “GOD will always do what is right.”

19Samuel grew up and GOD was with him—not leaving any of his predictions unfulfilled.

20All Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was trustworthy as a prophet of GOD.

21And GOD continued to appear at Shiloh—GOD being revealed to Samuel at Shiloh with the word of GOD;