[1] The boy Samuel served the Lord under Eli. At that time, the Lord did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions.
[2] Eli’s eyes were so weak he was almost blind. One night he lay down in bed.
[3] Samuel lay in bed in the Lord’s Holy Building. God’s Holy Box was in that Holy Building. The Lord’s lamp was still burning.
[4] The Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
[5] ˻Samuel thought Eli was calling him. So˼ Samuel ran to Eli. Samuel said to Eli, “Here I am. You called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” Samuel went back to bed.
[6] Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” Again Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”
[7] Samuel did not yet know the Lord. The Lord had not spoken directly to him yet.
[8] The Lord called Samuel the third time. Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. Samuel said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy.
[9] Eli told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, 'Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.
[10] The Lord came and stood there. He called as he did before. He said, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak. I am your servant, and I am listening.”
[11] The Lord said to Samuel, “I will soon do something in Israel. People who hear about it will be shocked.
[12] I will do everything I said I would do against Eli and his family. I will do everything from the beginning to the end.
[13] I told Eli I would punish his family forever. I will do that because Eli knew that his sons were saying and doing bad things against God but Eli failed to control them.
[14] That is why I swore ˻(promised)˼ that sacrifices and grain offerings will never take away the sins of the people in Eli’s family.”
[15] Samuel lay down in bed until the morning came. He got up early and opened the doors of the Lord’s house. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.
[16] But Eli said to Samuel, “Samuel, my son!” Samuel answered, “Yes, sir.”
[17] Eli asked, “What did the Lord say to you? Don’t hide it from me. God will punish you if you hide anything from the message God spoke to you.”
[18] So Samuel told Eli everything. Samuel did not hide anything from Eli. Eli said, “He is the Lord. Let him do whatever he thinks is right.”
[19] The Lord was with Samuel while he grew up. The Lord did not let any of Samuel’s messages prove false.
[20] Then all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was a true prophet of the Lord.
[21] And the Lord continued to appear to Samuel at Shiloh. The Lord revealed himself to Samuel as the word of the Lord.