1 Samuel 3

Speak, for Your Servant Is Listening

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The Lord Calls Samuel

3:1The child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest. The Lord’s word was precious in those days; there was no distinct vision.

3:2At that time Eli was sleeping in his place. His eyes had begun to grow heavy, and he could not see,

3:3and it was before God’s lamp was put in order. Samuel was sleeping in the sanctuary where God’s ark was,

3:4and the Lord called, “Samuel, Samuel!” He said, “Here I am.”

3:5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” He said, “I have not called you. Go back and sleep.” He went back and slept.

3:6The Lord called again, “Samuel, Samuel!” He went to Eli a second time and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” He said, “I have not called you. Go back and sleep.”

3:7This was before Samuel knew God and before the Lord’s word had been revealed to him.

3:8The Lord called Samuel a third time. He arose, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Eli realized that the Lord had called the child,

3:9He said, “Go back and sleep, child. If He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” Samuel went and lay down in his place.

3:10The Lord came and stood there. He called him as before, and Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

The Word Against Eli’s House

3:11The Lord said to Samuel, “Look, I am carrying out My words in Israel, so that both ears of everyone who hears them will resound.

3:12On that day I will raise against Eli everything I have spoken concerning his house. I will begin and bring it to completion.

3:13I have told him that I am taking vengeance on his house forever for his sons’ wrongdoings, because his sons were reviling God, and even so he did not admonish them.

3:14I swore concerning Eli’s house: the wrongdoing of Eli’s house shall never be expiated by incense or sacrifices.”

Samuel Tells Eli Everything

3:15Samuel lay until morning, rose early in the morning, and opened the doors of the Lord’s house. Samuel was afraid to report the vision to Eli.

3:16Eli said to Samuel, “Samuel, child.” He said, “Here I am.”

3:17He said, “What was the word spoken to you? Do not hide it from me. May God do these things to you, and add these things, if you hide from me a word of all the words spoken to you in your ears.”

3:18Samuel reported all the words and hid nothing from him. Eli said, “He is the Lord. He will do what is good before Him.”

Samuel Established as Prophet

3:19Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and none of his words fell to the ground.

3:20All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was faithful as a prophet to the Lord.

3:21The Lord continued to make Himself known at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel. Samuel was recognized as a prophet of the Lord for all Israel, from the ends of the land to the ends. Eli was very old, and his sons continued on their way, and their way was evil before the Lord.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.