| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. | 1Now the boy Samuel continued serving the LORD under Eli's supervision. Word from the LORD was rare in those days; revelatory visions were infrequent. |
| 2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. | 2Eli's eyes had begun to fail, so that he was unable to see well. At that time he was lying down in his place, |
| 3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. | 3and the lamp of God had not yet been extinguished. Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD as well; the ark of God was also there. |
| 4Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” | 4The LORD called to Samuel, and he replied, "Here I am!" |
| 5and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. | 5Then he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back and lie down." So he went back and lay down. |
| 6And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” | 6The LORD again called, "Samuel!" So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But Eli said, "I didn't call you, my son. Go back and lie down." |
| 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. | 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD; the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. |
| 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. | 8Then the LORD called Samuel a third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me!" Eli then realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. |
| 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. | 9So Eli said to Samuel, "Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." So Samuel went back and lay down in his place. |
| 10And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” | 10Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel replied, "Speak, for your servant is listening!" |
| 11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. | 11The LORD said to Samuel, "Look! I am about to do something in Israel; when anyone hears about it, both of his ears will tingle. |
| 12On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. | 12On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I spoke about his house--from start to finish! |
| 13And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. | 13You should tell him that I am about to judge his house forever because of the sin that he knew about. For his sons were cursing God, and he did not rebuke them. |
| 14Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” | 14Therefore I swore an oath to the house of Eli, 'The sin of the house of Eli can never be forgiven by sacrifice or by grain offering.'" |
| 15Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. | 15So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD's house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. |
| 16But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” | 16However, Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son!" He replied, "Here I am." |
| 17And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” | 17Eli said, "What message did he speak to you? Don't conceal it from me. God will judge you severely if you conceal from me anything that he said to you!" |
| 18So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.” | 18So Samuel told him everything. He did not hold back anything from him. Eli said, "The LORD will do what he pleases." |
| 19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. | 19Samuel continued to grow, and the LORD was with him. None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled. |
| 20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. | 20All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. |
| 21And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. | 21Then the LORD again appeared in Shiloh, for it was in Shiloh that the LORD had revealed himself to Samuel through the word of the LORD. |
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