| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. | 1And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare and visions were scarce. |
| 2One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. | 2And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room. |
| 3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. | 3Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located. |
| 4Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." | 4Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” |
| 5And 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. | 5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. |
| 6Again the LORD called, "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." | 6Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” |
| 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. | 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. |
| 8A third time the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. | 8Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. |
| 9So 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. | 9“Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. |
| 10The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." | 10Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” |
| 11And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. | 11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will tingle. |
| 12At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end. | 12On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his family, from beginning to end. |
| 13For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. | 13I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed God and he did not restrain them. |
| 14Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'" | 14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, ‘The iniquity of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ” |
| 15Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, | 15Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, |
| 16but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Here I am." | 16but Eli called to him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” answered Samuel. |
| 17"What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." | 17“What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.” |
| 18So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes." | 18So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.” |
| 19The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground. | 19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. |
| 20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. | 20So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. |
| 21The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. | 21And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word. |
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