I Samuel 3

1. And the child Samuel served the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days. There was no open vision.

2. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was lying down in his place and his eyes began to become dim, that he could not see,

3. And the lamp of God had not yet gone out. And Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was,

4. That the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here am I.”

5. And he ran to Eli, and said, “Here am I, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call. Go and lie down again.” And he went to lie down.

6. And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here am I, for you called me.” And he answered, “I did not call, my son. Go back and lie down.”

7. And Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8. And the LORD called Samuel again, the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here am I, for you called me.” And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9. And Eli said to Samuel, “Go and lie down; and it shall be, if One calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” And Samuel went to lie down in his place.

10. And the LORD came and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

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

12. In that day I will confirm to Eli all that which I have spoken concerning his house, and when I begin I will also make an end,

13. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows because his sons made themselves vile and he did not restrain them.

14. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s
house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.”

15. And Samuel lay until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

16. And Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he answered, “Here am I.”

17. And he said, “What is the word which He has said to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide a thing from me of all the words that He said to you.”

18. And Samuel told him all the words, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.”

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

20. And all Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

21. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.