1 Samuel 3:1-10

1The boy Samuel was serving the Lord under Eli. In those days a prophecy from the Lord was rare; visions were infrequent.

2One night Eli was lying down in his room. His eyesight had begun to fail so that he couldn’t see well.

3The lamp in God’s temple  hadn’t gone out yet, and Samuel was asleep in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was kept.

4Then the Lord called Samuel. “Here I am,” Samuel responded.

5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I didn’t call ⌞you⌟,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back and lay down.

6The Lord called Samuel again. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I didn’t call ⌞you⌟, son,” he responded. “Go back to bed.”

7Samuel had no experience with the Lord, because the Lord’s word had not yet been revealed to him.

8The Lord called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.

9“Go, lie down,” Eli told Samuel. “When he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I’m listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his room.

10The Lord came and stood there. He called as he had called the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak. I’m listening.”