| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. | 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. |
| 2One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual 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 house 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. Samuel answered, "Here I am." | 4The LORD called to Samuel, and he replied, "Here I am!" |
| 5And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." 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. |
| 6Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." | 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: 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. |
| 8A third time the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized 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. |
| 9So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" 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. |
| 10The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." | 10Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel replied, "Speak, for your servant is listening!" |
| 11And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it 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. |
| 12At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end. | 12On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I spoke about his house--from start to finish! |
| 13For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to 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 swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'" | 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 down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, | 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 him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Here I am." | 16However, Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son!" He replied, "Here I am." |
| 17"What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything 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, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes." | 18So Samuel told him everything. He did not hold back anything from him. Eli said, "The LORD will do what he pleases." |
| 19The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's 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 recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. | 20All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. |
| 21The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. | 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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