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[1]Now the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli: and the word of the Lord was precious in those days: for there was no manifest vision.
[2]And at that time, as Eli lay in his place, his eyes began to wax dim that he could not see.
[3]And ere the light of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
[4]Then the Lord called Samuel: and he said, Here I am.
[5]And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I, for thou callest me. But he said, I called thee not: go again and sleep. And he went and slept.
[6]And the Lord called once again, Samuel. And Samuel arose, and went to Eli, and said, I am here: for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called thee not, my son: go again and sleep.
[7]Thus did Samuel, before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him.
[8]And the Lord called Samuel again the third time: and he arose, and went to Eli, and said, I am here: for thou hast called me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
[9]Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go and sleep: and if he call thee, then say, Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went, and slept in his place.
[10]And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak, for thy servant heareth.
[11]Then the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, whereof whosoever shall hear, his two ears shall tingle.
[12]In that day I will raise up against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
[13]And I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knoweth, because his sons ran into a slander, and he stayed them not.
[14]Now therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the wickedness of Eli's house, shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.
[15]Afterward Samuel slept until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
[16]Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel my son. And he answered, Here I am.
[17]Then he said, What is it, that the Lord said unto thee? I pray thee, hide it not from me. God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me, of all that he said unto thee.
[18]So Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. Then he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.
[19]And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.
[20]And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that faithful Samuel was the Lord's prophet.
[21]And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by his word.
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