1The boy Samuel was serving the LORD under Eli's supervision. In those days, the word of the LORD was rare and visions were uncommon.
2One night Eli was lying in his room, and his eyesight had grown so poor that he could barely see.
3The lamp of God had not yet gone out in the tabernacle where the ark of God was kept, and Samuel was lying down there to sleep,
4when the LORD called out, 'Samuel!' Samuel answered, 'Here I am!'
5He ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am — you called me.' But Eli said, 'I didn't call you. Go back to bed.' So Samuel went back and lay down.
6The LORD called again, 'Samuel!' Samuel got up and went to Eli again, saying, 'Here I am — you called me.' But Eli replied, 'I didn't call you, my son. Go back to bed.'
7Samuel did not yet know the LORD personally, and the LORD's word had not yet been revealed to him directly.
8The LORD called a third time. Samuel got up again and went to Eli, saying, 'Here I am — you called me.' Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy.
9So Eli told Samuel, 'Go lie down, and if he calls you again, say, Speak, LORD — your servant is listening.' So Samuel went back and lay down in his place.
10The LORD came and stood there and called as before, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel replied, 'Speak — your servant is listening.'
11The LORD said to Samuel, 'I am about to do something in Israel that will make everyone who hears about it tremble.'
12'On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken against his family — from beginning to end.'
13'I told him I would judge his household forever because of the sin he knew about. His sons were bringing contempt on God, and he failed to restrain them.'
14'Therefore I swore concerning the house of Eli: the guilt of his family will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'
15Samuel lay there until morning, then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli what he had seen.
16But Eli called out to him and said, 'Samuel, my son.' Samuel answered, 'Here I am.'
17Eli asked, 'What did the LORD say to you? Do not hide it from me. May God punish you severely if you keep anything from me.'
18So Samuel told him everything and held nothing back. Eli said, 'He is the LORD. Let him do what he thinks is right.'
19As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and made sure that everything Samuel said came true.
20All Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD.
21The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, revealing himself to Samuel there through his word.