1
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
2
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;
3
the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
4
Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!"
5
and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down.
6
The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again."
7
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8
The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy.
9
Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."