1 Samuel 3

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest vision.	1 During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
2 And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:	2 One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
3 Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.	3 The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was.
4 And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I.	4 The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am."
5 And he ran to Heli and said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. He said: I did not call: go back and sleep. And he went and slept.	5 He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." "I did not call you," Eli said. "Go back to sleep." So he went back to sleep.
6 And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not call thee, my son: return and sleep.	6 Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. "Here I am," he said. "You called me." But he answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.	7 At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up and went to Heli.	8 The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am. You called me." Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
9 And said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep: and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place.	9 So he said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
10 And the Lord came and stood: and he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.	10 the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
11 And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.	11 The LORD said to Samuel: "I am about to do something in Israel that will cause the ears of everyone who hears it to ring.
12 In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.	12 On that day I will carry out in full against Eli everything I threatened against his family.
13 For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for ever, for iniquity, because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did not chastise them.	13 I announce to him that I am condemning his family once and for all, because of this crime: though he knew his sons were blaspheming God, he did not reprove them.
14 Therefore have I sworn to the house of Hell, that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever.	14 Therefore, I swear to the family of Eli that no sacrifice or offering will ever expiate its crime."
15 And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Hell.	15 Samuel then slept until morning, when he got up early and opened the doors of the temple of the LORD. He feared to tell Eli the vision,
16 Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he answered: Here am I.	16 but Eli called to him, "Samuel, my son!" He replied, "Here I am."
17 And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to thee? I beseech thee hide it not from me. May God do so and so to thee, and add so and so, if thou hide from me one word of all that were said to thee.	17 Then Eli asked, "What did he say to you? Hide nothing from me! May God do thus and so to you if you hide a single thing he told you."
18 So Samuel told him all the words, and did not hide them from him. And he answered: It is the Lord: let him do what is good in his sight.	18 So Samuel told him everything, and held nothing back. Eli answered, "He is the LORD. He will do what he judges best."
19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his words fell to the ground.	19 Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
20 And all Israel from Dan to Bersabee, knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord.	20 Thus all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.
21 And the Lord again appeared in Silo, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of Samuel came to pass to all Israel.	21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh; he manifested himself to Samuel at Shiloh through his word,