1 Samuel, 3

1. And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there was] no open vision.

1. The boy Samuel ministered to Yahweh under Eli's care in a time in which the word of Yahweh was rarely heard; visions were not seen.

2. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli [was] laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, [that] he could not see;

2. One night Eli was lying down in his room, half blind as he was.

3. And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God [was], and Samuel was laid down [to sleep];

3. The lamp of God was still lighted and Samuel also lay in the house of Yahweh near the ark of God.

4. That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here [am] I.

4. Then Yahweh called, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "I am here!"

5. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

5. and ran to Eli saying, "I am here, did you not call me?" But Eli said, "I did not call, go back to sleep." So he went and lay down.

6. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

6. Then Yahweh called again, "Samuel!" and Samuel stood up and went to Eli saying, "You called me; I am here." But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."

7. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

7. Samuel did not yet know Yahweh and the word of Yahweh had not yet been revealed to him.

8. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

8. But Yahweh called Samuel for the third time and, as he went again to Eli saying, "I am here for you have called me," Eli realized that it was Yahweh calling the boy.

9. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

9. So he said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you again, answer: "Speak, Yahweh, your servant listens."

10. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

10. Then Yahweh came and stood there calling as he did before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant listens."

11. And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

11. Then Yahweh spoke to Samuel, "Look, I am about to do something in Israel which will scare everyone who hears about it.

12. In that day I will perform against Eli all [things] which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

12. On that day I will carry out what I told Eli regarding his family. All will be fulfilled from beginning to end.

13. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

13. For I told him that I was about to sentence his family forever. He himself knew that his sons were blaspheming God, but he did not stop them.

14. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

14. This is why I have cursed the family of Eli. Their sin shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or by any offering."

15. And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

15. Samuel lay down until morning and rose up early. Then he opened the doors of Yahweh's house. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli,

16. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here [am] I.

16. but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "I am here."

17. And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

17. Eli asked, "What did Yahweh tell you? Do not hide it from me. Fear the punishment of God if you hide from me even one thing he told you."

18. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

18. So Samuel told him everything to the end and Eli said, "He is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him."

19. And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

19. Samuel grew; Yahweh was with him and made all his words become true.

20. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD.

20. All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was really Yahweh's prophet.

21. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

21. Yahweh would appear at Shiloh; there he revealed himself to Samuel by giving him his word.