6. The Lord called again, “Samuel!”Samuel again went to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.”Again Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”
7. Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the Lord had not spoken directly to him yet.
8. The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.”Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy.
9. So he told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in bed.
10. The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, “Samuel, Samuel!”Samuel said, “Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.”
11. The Lord said to Samuel, “Watch, I am going to do something in Israel that will shock those who hear about it.
12. At that time I will do to Eli and his family everything I promised, from beginning to end.
13. I told Eli I would punish his family always, because he knew his sons were evil. They acted without honor, but he did not stop them.
14. So I swore to Eli’s family, ‘Your guilt will never be removed by sacrifice or offering.’ ”
15. Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision,
16. but Eli called to him, “Samuel, my son!”Samuel answered, “I am here.”
17. Eli asked, “What did the Lord say to you? Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you terribly if you hide from me anything he said to you.”