1 Samuel 3
3
The LORD Appears to Samuel
1In those days, when the boy Samuel was serving the LORD under the direction of Eli, there were very few messages from the LORD, and visions from him were quite rare. 2One night Eli, who was now almost blind, was sleeping in his own room; 3Samuel was sleeping in the sanctuary, where the sacred Covenant Box was. Before dawn, while the lamp was still burning, 4the LORD called Samuel. He answered, “Yes, sir!” 5and ran to Eli and said, “You called me, and here I am.”
But Eli answered, “I didn't call you; go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed.
6-7The LORD called Samuel again. The boy did not know that it was the LORD, because the LORD had never spoken to him before. So he got up, went to Eli, and said, “You called me, and here I am.”
But Eli answered, “My son, I didn't call you; go back to bed.”
8The LORD called Samuel a third time; he got up, went to Eli, and said, “You called me, and here I am.”
Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy, 9so he said to him, “Go back to bed; and if he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went back to bed.
10The LORD came and stood there, and called as he had before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak; your servant is listening.”
11The LORD said to him, “Some day I am going to do something to the people of Israel that is so terrible that everyone who hears about it will be stunned. 12On that day I will carry out all my threats against Eli's family, from beginning to end. 13I have already told him#3.13 One ancient translation I have already told him; Hebrew I will tell him. that I am going to punish his family for ever because his sons have spoken evil things against me. Eli knew they were doing this, but he did not stop them. 14So I solemnly declare to the family of Eli that no sacrifice or offering will ever be able to remove the consequences of this terrible sin.”
15Samuel stayed in bed until morning; then he got up and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. 16Eli called him, “Samuel, my boy!”
“Yes, sir,” answered Samuel.
17“What did the LORD tell you?” Eli asked. “Don't keep anything from me. God will punish you severely if you don't tell me everything he said.” 18So Samuel told him everything; he did not keep anything back. Eli said, “He is the LORD; he will do whatever seems best to him.”
19As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and made everything that Samuel said come true. 20So all the people of Israel, from one end of the country to the other, knew that Samuel was indeed a prophet of the LORD. 21The LORD continued to reveal himself at Shiloh, where he had appeared to Samuel and had spoken to him. And when Samuel spoke, all Israel listened.
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1 Samuel 3: GNBDC
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
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.