1 Samuel 3

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open 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 at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax 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 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;	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 That 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 unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.	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 yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.	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 was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto 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 and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.	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 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down 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 called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; 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 will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it 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 perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also 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 told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.	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 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 for ever.	14 Therefore, I swear to the family of Eli that no sacrifice or offering will ever expiate its crime."
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.	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 Eli 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 said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto 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 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.	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 did let none of his words fall 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 even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a 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 appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.	21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh; he manifested himself to Samuel at Shiloh through his word,