1 Meanwhile the boy Samuel was serving the LORD before Eli. A word from the LORD was rare in those days, and visions were infrequent. ISV — 1Samuel 3:1
2 At that time Eli, whose vision was growing dim, a3:2 Lit. dim so that he was unable to see was lying down in his bedroom. b3:2 Lit. place ISV — 1Samuel 3:2
3 The lamp of God had not yet been extinguished, and Samuel was lying down in the tent c3:3 Or temple of the LORD where the Ark of God was. ISV — 1Samuel 3:3
4 The LORD called out to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” ISV — 1Samuel 3:4
5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am! You called me.” “I didn’t call you,” Eli d3:5 Lit. He said. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. ISV — 1Samuel 3:5
6 Then the LORD again called out, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am! You called me.” He said, “I didn’t call you, my son. Go back and lie down.” ISV — 1Samuel 3:6
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD and had not yet had the word of the LORD revealed to him. ISV — 1Samuel 3:7
8 Then the LORD called out to Samuel again a third time, and he got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am! You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy, ISV — 1Samuel 3:8
9 so Eli told Samuel, “Go lie down, and then if he calls you, answer, ‘Speak, LORD, because your servant is listening.’” Then Samuel e3:9 Lit. he went and lay down. ISV — 1Samuel 3:9
10 Later, the LORD came and stood there, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!” as he had before. Samuel said, “Speak, because your servant is listening.” ISV — 1Samuel 3:10
11 “Look,” the LORD told Samuel. “I’m about to do something f3:11 Lit. do a work in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears it tingle. ISV — 1Samuel 3:11
12 I’ll fulfill every promise that I’ve spoken concerning Eli’s family, from beginning to end. ISV — 1Samuel 3:12
13 I’ve told him that I’m about to judge his family forever because of the iniquity that he knew about. His sons committed blasphemy g3:13 LXX cursed God; MT cursed themselves and he did not rebuke them. ISV — 1Samuel 3:13
14 Therefore I’ve sworn concerning Eli’s family that the iniquity of his family is not to be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” ISV — 1Samuel 3:14
15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD, but he h3:15 Lit. Samuel was afraid to report the vision to Eli. ISV — 1Samuel 3:15
16 Then Eli called Samuel: “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” ISV — 1Samuel 3:16
17 Eli i3:17 Lit. He said, “What did the LORD j3:17 Lit. he say to you? Please don’t conceal anything k3:17 The Heb. lacks anything from me. May God do this to you and even more l3:17 i.e. May God punish you if you conceal from me one word of all that he spoke to you.” ISV — 1Samuel 3:17
18 So Samuel told him everything—he did not conceal anything m3:18 The Heb. lacks anything from him. Eli n3:18 Lit. He said, “He is the LORD. May he do what seems good to him.” ISV — 1Samuel 3:18
19 As Samuel grew, the LORD was with him and did not let any of Samuel’s o3:19 Lit. his predictions fail. p3:19 Lit. words fall to the ground ISV — 1Samuel 3:19
20 All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as the LORD’s prophet. ISV — 1Samuel 3:20
21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because he q3:21 Lit. the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by means of messages from r3:21 Lit. by the word of the LORD. ISV — 1Samuel 3:21