1.Samuel 3 | New International Reader’s Version

The Lordcalls out to Samuel

1 The 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. 2 One night Eli was lying down in his usual place. His eyes were becoming so weak he couldn’t see very well. 3 Samuel was lying down in the LORD’s house. That’s where the ark of God was kept. The lamp of God was still burning. 4 The LORD called out to Samuel. Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’ 5 He 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. 6 Again 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.’ 7 Samuel didn’t know the LORD yet. That’s because the LORD still hadn’t given him a message. 8 The 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 realised that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So 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. 10 The 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.’ 11 The 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. 12 At that time I will do everything to Eli and his family that I said I would. I will finish what I have started. 13 I told Eli I would punish his family for ever. He knew his sons were sinning. He knew they were saying bad things about me. In spite of that, he did not stop them. 14 So 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.” ’ 15 Samuel 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. 16 But 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.’ 18 So 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.’ 19 As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him. He made everything Samuel said come true. 20 So all the Israelites recognised that Samuel really was a prophet of the LORD. Everyone from Dan all the way to Beersheba knew it. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh. There he made himself known to Samuel through the messages he gave him.

English Standard Version

The Lord Calls Samuel

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 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 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now 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 I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God,* and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” 15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” 17 And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything 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 to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

1.Samuel 3 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

The Lordcalls out to Samuel

The Lord Calls Samuel