1 Samuel 3
3
The Lord Calls Out to Samuel
1The boy Samuel served the Lord under the direction of Eli. In those days the Lord didn’t give many messages to his people. He didn’t give them many visions.
2One night Eli was lying down in his usual place. His eyes were becoming so weak he couldn’t see very well. 3Samuel was lying down in the Lord’s house. That’s where the ark of God was kept. The lamp of God was still burning. 4The Lord called out to Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5He ran over to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called out to me.”
But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
6Again the Lord called out, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “Here I am. You called out to me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.”
7Samuel didn’t know the Lord yet. That’s because the Lord still hadn’t given him a message.
8The Lord called out for the third time. He said, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “Here I am. You called out to me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If someone calls out to you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I’m listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10The Lord came and stood there. He called out, just as he had done the other times. He said, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel replied, “Speak. I’m listening.”
11The Lord said to Samuel, “Pay attention! I am about to do something terrible in Israel. It will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12At that time I will do everything to Eli and his family that I said I would. I will finish what I have started. 13I told Eli I would punish his family forever. He knew his sons were sinning. He knew they were saying bad things about me. In spite of that, he did not stop them. 14So I made a promise to the family of Eli. I said, ‘The sins of Eli’s family will never be paid for by bringing sacrifices or offerings.’ ”
15Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision he had received. 16But Eli called out to him. He said, “Samuel, my son.”
Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
17“What did the Lord say to you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide from me anything he told you. If you do, may God punish you greatly.” 18So Samuel told him everything. He didn’t hide anything from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is best.”
19As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him. He made everything Samuel said come true. 20So all the Israelites recognized that Samuel really was a prophet of the Lord. Everyone from Dan all the way to Beersheba knew it. 21The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh. There he made himself known to Samuel through the messages he gave him.
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1 Samuel 3: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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1 Kings 3
3
1Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days: there was no manifest vision.
2And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:
3Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
4And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I.
5And he ran to Heli and said: Here am I; for thou didst call me. He said: I did not call. Go back and sleep. And he went and slept.
6And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to Heli, and said: Here am I; for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not call thee, my son. Return and sleep.
7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord; neither had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.
8And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up and went to Heli.
9And said: Here am I; for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep. And if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place.
10And the Lord came and stood. And he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.
11And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold, I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.
12In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.
13For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for ever, for iniquity; because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did not chastise them.
14Therefore have I sworn to the house of Heli, that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever.
15And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Heli.
16Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he answered: Here am I.
17And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to thee? I beseech thee hide it not from me. May God do so and so to thee, and add so and so, if thou hide from me one word of all that were said to thee.
18So Samuel told him all the words, and did not hide them from him. And he answered: It is the Lord. Let him do what is good in his sight.
19And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him: and not one of his words fell to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan to Bersabee knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord.
21And the Lord again appeared in Silo for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of Samuel came to pass to all Israel.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.