1 Samuel 3

Revised Geneva Translation

3 Now the child, Samuel, ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the Word of the LORD was precious in those days; for there was no manifest vision.

² And at that time, as Eli lay in his place, his eyes began to grow dim, so that he could not see.

³ And before the Light of God went out, Samuel slept 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 he ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am! For you called me!” But he said, “I did not call you. Go back. Sleep.” And he went and slept.

⁶ And the LORD called Samuel once again. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “I am here! For you called me!” And he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back. Sleep.”

⁷ Thus did Samuel, before he knew the LORD and before the Word of the LORD was revealed to him.

⁸ And the LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “I am here! For you have called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

⁹ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go. Sleep. And if He calls you, then say, “Speak LORD, for Your servant hears.” So, Samuel went and slept in his place.

¹⁰ And the LORD came and stood and called, as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” Then Samuel answered, “Speak. For Your servant hears.”

¹¹ Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, of which whoever shall hear, his two ears shall tingle.

¹² “On that day, I will raise up against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his House. What I begin, I will also finish.

¹³ “And I have told him that I will judge his House forever, for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons despised themselves, and he did not rebuke them.

¹⁴ “Now, therefore, I have sworn to the House of Eli that the wickedness of Eli’s House shall not ever be purged with Sacrifice or Offering.”

¹⁵ Afterward, Samuel slept until the morning, and opened the doors of the House of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.

¹⁶ Then Eli called Samuel, and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he answered, “Here I am.”

¹⁷ Then he said, “What is it that the LORD said to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that He said to you.”

¹⁸ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then 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 faithful Samuel was the LORD’s Prophet.

²¹ And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by His Word.