| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. | 1Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the LORD by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the LORD were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. |
| 2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. | 2One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. |
| 3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. | 3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. |
| 4Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” | 4Suddenly the LORD called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” |
| 5and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. | 5He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. |
| 6And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” | 6Then the LORD called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” |
| 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. | 7Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before. |
| 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. | 8So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. |
| 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. | 9So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. |
| 10And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” | 10And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” |
| 11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. | 11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. |
| 12On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. | 12I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. |
| 13And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. | 13I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. |
| 14Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” | 14So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.” Samuel Speaks for the LORD |
| 15Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. | 15Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the LORD had said to him. |
| 16But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” | 16But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” Samuel replied. |
| 17And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” | 17“What did the LORD say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!” |
| 18So 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 Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the LORD’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.” |
| 19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. | 19As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. |
| 20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. | 20And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. |
| 21And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. | 21The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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