1 Now 1the boySamuel was ministering to the LORDbeforeEli. And 2word from the LORD was rare in thosedays, visions were infrequent*.
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It happened at that time as Eli was lyingdown in his place (now 3his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),
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and 4the lamp of God had not yetgone out, and Samuel was lyingdown in the temple of the LORDwhere* the ark of God was,
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that the LORDcalledSamuel; and he said, "5Here I am."
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Then he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, liedownagain." So he went and laydown.
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The LORDcalledyetagain, "Samuel!" So Samuelarose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he answered, "I did not call, my son, liedownagain."
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6Now Samuel did not yetknow the LORD, nor had the word of the LORDyet been revealed to him.
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So the LORDcalledSamuelagain for the thirdtime. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Elidiscerned that the LORD was calling the boy.
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And Elisaid to Samuel, "Goliedown, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.' " So Samuelwent and laydown in his place.
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Then the LORDcame and stood and called as at othertimes, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuelsaid, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."
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The LORDsaid to Samuel, "Behold, 7I am about to do a thing in Israel at whichbothears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
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"In that day8I will carry out againstEliall that I have spokenconcerning his house, from beginning to end.
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"For 9I have told him that I am about to judge his houseforever* for 10the iniquitywhich he knew, because11his sonsbrought a curse on themselves and 12he did not rebuke them.
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"Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that 13the iniquity of Eli'shouse shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offeringforever*."
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So Samuellaydownuntilmorning. Then he 14opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell15the vision to Eli.
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Then ElicalledSamuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am."
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He said, "What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. 16May Goddoso to you, and more also, if you hideanything from me of all the words that He spoke to you."
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So Samueltold him everything and hidnothing from him. And he said, "17It is the LORD; let Him dowhat seems good to Him."
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Thus 18Samuelgrew and 19the LORD was with him and 20let none* of his wordsfail*.
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AllIsrael21from Dan even to Beershebaknew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.
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And 22the LORDappearedagain at Shiloh, 23because the LORDrevealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.