1 Samuel 3:1-21 NIrV

[1] The boy Samuel served the LORD under the direction of Eli. In those days the LORD didn’t give many messages to his people. He didn’t give them many visions. [2] One night Eli was lying down in his usual place. His eyes were becoming so weak he couldn’t see very well. [3] Samuel was lying down in the LORD’s house. That’s where the ark of God was kept. The lamp of God was still burning. [4] The LORD called out to Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” [5] He ran over to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called out to me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. [6] Again the LORD called out, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “Here I am. You called out to me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” [7] Samuel didn’t know the LORD yet. That’s because the LORD still hadn’t given him a message. [8] The LORD called out for the third time. He said, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “Here I am. You called out to me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. [9] So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If someone calls out to you again, say, ‘Speak, LORD. I’m listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. [10] The LORD came and stood there. He called out, just as he had done the other times. He said, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel replied, “Speak. I’m listening.” [11] The LORD said to Samuel, “Pay attention! I am about to do something terrible in Israel. It will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. [12] At that time I will do everything to Eli and his family that I said I would. I will finish what I have started. [13] I told Eli I would punish his family forever. He knew his sons were sinning. He knew they were saying bad things about me. In spite of that, he did not stop them. [14] So I made a promise to the family of Eli. I said, ‘The sins of Eli’s family will never be paid for by bringing sacrifices or offerings.’ ” [15] Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision he had received. [16] But Eli called out to him. He said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” [17] “What did the LORD say to you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide from me anything he told you. If you do, may God punish you greatly.” [18] So Samuel told him everything. He didn’t hide anything from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD. Let him do what he thinks is best.” [19] As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him. He made everything Samuel said come true. [20] So all the Israelites recognized that Samuel really was a prophet of the LORD. Everyone from Dan all the way to Beersheba knew it. [21] The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh. There he made himself known to Samuel through the messages he gave him.