1 Samuel 3

New International Version

TheLordCalls Samuel

3 The boy Samuel ministered^(A)before theLordunder Eli. In those days the word of theLordwas rare;^(B)there were not many visions.^(C)

² One night Eli, whose eyes^(D)were becoming so weak that he could barely see,^(E)was lying down in his usual place.³ The lamp^(F)of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house^(G)of theLord, where the ark^(H)of God was.⁴ Then theLordcalled Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.^(I)”⁵ And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

⁶ Again theLordcalled, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know^(J)theLord: The word^(K)of theLordhad not yet been revealed^(L)to him.

⁸ A third time theLordcalled, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that theLordwas calling the boy.⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak,Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ TheLordcame and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!^(M)”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

¹¹ And theLordsaid to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.^(N)12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything^(O)I spoke against his family—from beginning to end.¹³ For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,^[a]and he failed to restrain^(P)them.¹⁴ Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned^(Q)for by sacrifice or offering.’”

¹⁵ Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of theLord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,¹⁶ but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

¹⁷ “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide^(R)it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely,^(S)if you hide from me anything he told you.”¹⁸ So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is theLord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”^(T)

¹⁹ TheLordwas with^(U)Samuel as he grew^(V)up, and he let none^(W)of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba^(X)recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of theLord.^(Y)21 TheLordcontinued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed^(Z)himself to Samuel through his word.