1. And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no open vision.
2. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was lying down in his place, and his eyes had begun to grow dim, that he could not see;
3. And before the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was lying down to sleep;
4. That the LORD called,
5. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6. And the LORD called yet again,
7. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, Speak, LORD; for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times,
11. And the LORD said to Samuel,
12. In that day I will perform against Eli all the things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.
15. And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to tell Eli the vision.