1 When the boy Samuel was serving Jehovah under the direction of Eli, there were very few messages from Jehovah. Visions from him were rare.

2 Eli was lying down in his usual place. His eyes became dim and he could not see.

3 The lamp of God went out in the Temple of Jehovah. Samuel was lying down where the Ark of God was.

4 Jehovah called Samuel. He answered: »Here am I.«

5 He ran to Eli and said: »Here I am. You called me?« »I did not call you,« Eli replied. »Go back to bed.« So Samuel went back to bed.

6 Jehovah called Samuel again. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said: »Here I am. You called me.« Eli responded: »I did not call you, son. Go back to bed.«

7 Samuel had no experience with Jehovah, because the word of Jehovah had not yet been revealed to him.

8 Jehovah called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said: »Here I am. You called me!« Eli realized discerned that Jehovah was calling the boy.

9 »Go, lie down,« Eli told Samuel. When he calls you, say: »Speak Jehovah I am listening.« So Samuel went back to bed in his room.

10 Jehovah came and stood there. He called as he had called the other times: »Samuel! Samuel!« Samuel replied: »Speak! Your servant is listening.«

11 Jehovah said to Samuel: »I will do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it tingle.

12 »On that day I am going to do to Eli and his family everything I said from beginning to end.

13 »I told him I would hand down a long lasting judgment against his household because he knew about his sons’ sin. They were cursing God but he did not restrain them.

14 »I have taken an oath concerning Eli’s family line. No offering or sacrifice will ever be able to make peace for the sins that Eli’s family committed.«

15 Samuel remained in bed until morning. Then he opened the doors of Jehovah’s house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.

16 Eli called Samuel and said: »Samuel, my son.« »Here I am,« he responded.

17 »What did Jehovah tell you?« He asked. »Please do not hide it from me. May God strike you dead if you hide anything he told you from me.«

18 Then Samuel told Eli everything. Eli replied: »He is Jehovah! He will do what he thinks is right.«

19 Samuel grew up. Jehovah was with him and did not let any of his words go unfulfilled fail.

20 All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew Samuel was Jehovah’s appointed prophet.

21 Jehovah continued to appear in Shiloh, since Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the word of Jehovah. And Samuel spoke to all Israel.