| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. | 1And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare and visions were scarce. |
| 2And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, | 2And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room. |
| 3and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, | 3Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located. |
| 4that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” | 4Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” |
| 5So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. | 5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. |
| 6Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” | 6Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” |
| 7(Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.) | 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. |
| 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. | 8Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. |
| 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. | 9“Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. |
| 10Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” | 10Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” |
| 11Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. | 11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will tingle. |
| 12In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. | 12On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his family, from beginning to end. |
| 13For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. | 13I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed God and he did not restrain them. |
| 14And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” | 14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, ‘The iniquity of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ” |
| 15So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. | 15Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, |
| 16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He answered, “Here I am.” | 16but Eli called to him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” answered Samuel. |
| 17And he said, “What is the word that the LORD spoke 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 the things that He said to you.” | 17“What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.” |
| 18Then 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 and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.” |
| 19So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. | 19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. |
| 20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. | 20So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. |
| 21Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. | 21And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word. |
|
