1
And the childSamuelministered unto the LORDbeforeEli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no openvision.
2
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyesbegan to wax dim, that he could not see;
3
And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4
That the LORDcalledSamuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5
And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, Icalled not; lie downagain. And he went and lay down.
6
And the LORDcalled yet again, Samuel. And Samuelarose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie downagain.
7
Now Samuel did not yetknow the LORD, neither was the word of the LORDyetrevealed unto him.
8
And the LORDcalledSamuelagain the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eliperceived that the LORD had called the child.
9
Therefore Elisaid unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servantheareth. So Samuelwent and lay down in his place.
10
And the LORDcame, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuelanswered, Speak; for thy servantheareth.
11
And the LORDsaid to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12
In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spokenconcerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13For I have told him that I will judge his houseforeverfor the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14
And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offeringforever.
15
And Samuellay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuelfeared to shewEli the vision.
16
Then ElicalledSamuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17
And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18
And Samueltold him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
19
And Samuelgrew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his wordsfall to the ground.
20
And all Israel from Dan even to Beershebaknew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21
And the LORDappearedagain in Shiloh: for the LORDrevealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.