1 Samuel 3:1-12

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

3 Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest vision.

² And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:

³ Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

⁴ And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I.

⁵ And he ran to Heli and said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. He said: I did not call: go back and sleep. And he went and slept.

⁶ And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not call thee, my son: return and sleep.

⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.

⁸ And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up and went to Heli.

⁹ And said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep: and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place.

¹⁰ And the Lord came and stood: and he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.

¹¹ And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.

¹² In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.