1AND the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD, assisting Eli the priest. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was lying down in his bed, and his eyes had begun to grow dim so that he could not see; 3And the lamp of the LORD was not yet put out, and Samuel was lying down to sleep in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4And the LORD called Samuel; and he answered, Here I am. 5And he ran to Eli and said, Here I am; for you called me. And he said, I did not call; go back and lie down. And he went and lay down. 6And the LORD called again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here I am; for you did call me. And he answered, I did not call, my son; go back and lie down. 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD revealed to him. 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And Samuel 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. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go back and lie down; and it shall be, if he calls you, you shall say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant hears. So Samuel went back and lay down in his place.

10And the LORD came and stood and called twice, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak, LORD; for thy servant hears. 11And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do such a thing in Israel that whoever shall hear of it, shall give heed. 12In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13And I will show him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knew when his sons reviled the people and he did not rebuke them. 14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's household shall not be purged with sacrifices nor offerings for ever.

15And Samuel lay until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Eli. 16Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17And he said to him, What is the thing that the LORD has said to you? Do not be afraid of me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that the LORD said to you. 18And Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And Eli said, It is the LORD; let him do what is good in his sight.

19And Samuel knew that the LORD was with him, and he did not ignore any of his words. 20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was to be a prophet of the LORD. 21And the LORD continued to reveal himself by his words in Shiloh; and Samuel's words were declared throughout all Israel.