1 Samuel 3:1–10

Samuel’s First Prophecy

3Now ^athe boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And ^bthe word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. ²And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow ^cso dim that he could not see, ³and before ^dthe lamp of God went out in the ¹tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, ⁴that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” ⁵So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.

⁶Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!”

So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” ⁷(Now Samuel ^edid not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)

⁸And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”

Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. ⁹Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ^f‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”