1 Samuel 3
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1The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.1Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the LORD by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the LORD were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
2One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.2One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.
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.3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
4Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am."4Suddenly the LORD called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?”
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 got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.
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."6Then the LORD called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”
7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.7Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before.
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.8So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized 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.9So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.
10The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."10And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, 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 a shocking thing in Israel.
12At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end.12I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and 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 have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them.
14Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'"14So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.” Samuel Speaks for the LORD
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 stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the LORD had said to him.
16but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Here I am."16But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” Samuel replied.
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 did the LORD say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!”
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 Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the LORD’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
19The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground.19As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.
20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD.20And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, 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.21The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
1 Samuel 2
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