1. Now the boy Samuel was in the service of Adonai under Eli. In those days the word of Adonai was rare—there were no visions breaking through.
2. One day, Eli was lying down in his place—now his eyes had grown dim so that he could not see,
3. and the lamp of God had not yet gone out. Samuel was lying down in Adonai’s Temple, where the ark of God was.
4. Then Adonai called, “Samuel!” So he answered, “Here I am.”
5. Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he replied, “I didn’t call—go back to sleep.” So he went back and lay down.
6. Then Adonai called Samuel yet again. So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I didn’t call, my son—go back to sleep.”
7. Now Samuel had not experienced Adonai yet, since the word of Adonai had not yet been revealed to him.
8. Adonai called Samuel again for the third time. So he got up and went to Eli, and said “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that Adonai was calling the boy.
9. So Eli said to Samuel, “Go back to sleep, and if He calls you, say: ‘Speak, Adonai, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back and lay down in his place.
10. Then Adonai came and stood and called as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
11. Then Adonai said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone that hears it will tingle.
12. In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
13. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity that he knew about, because his sons brought a curse on themselves yet he did not rebuke them.
14. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.”
15. Then Samuel lay down until the morning, when he opened the doors of the House of Adonai. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.
16. Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” he replied.