Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 3"

1 Samuel 3

The Message Bible MSG

1 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli's direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen.

2 One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad - he could hardly see).

3 It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.

4 Then God called out, "Samuel, Samuel!"

5 Then he ran to Eli saying, "I heard you call. Here I am." Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." And so he did.

6 God called again, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, "I heard you call. Here I am."

7 (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)

8 God called again, "Samuel!" - the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, "Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am."

9 So Eli directed Samuel, "Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, 'Speak, God. I'm your servant, ready to listen.'" Samuel returned to his bed.

10 Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen."

11 God said to Samuel, "Listen carefully. I'm getting ready to do something in Israel that is going to shake everyone up and get their attention.

12 The time has come for me to bring down on Eli's family everything I warned him of, every last word of it.

13 I'm letting him know that the time's up. I'm bringing judgment on his family for good. He knew what was going on, that his sons were desecrating God's name and God's place, and he did nothing to stop them.

14 This is my sentence on the family of Eli: The evil of Eli's family can never be wiped out by sacrifice or offering."

15 Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then rose early and went about his duties, opening the doors of the sanctuary, but he dreaded having to tell the vision to Eli.

16 But then Eli summoned Samuel: "Samuel, my son!" Samuel came running: "Yes? What can I do for you?"

17 "What did he say? Tell it to me, all of it. Don't suppress or soften one word, as God is your judge! I want it all, word for word as he said it to you."

18 So Samuel told him, word for word. He held back nothing. Eli said, "He is God. Let him do whatever he thinks best."

19 Samuel grew up. God was with him, and Samuel's prophetic record was flawless.

20 Everyone in Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, recognized that Samuel was the real thing - a true prophet of God.

21 God continued to show up at Shiloh, revealed through his word to Samuel at Shiloh.

New Century Version NCV

1 The boy Samuel served the Lord under Eli. In those days the Lord did not speak directly to people very often; there were very few visions.

2 Eli's eyes were so weak he was almost blind. One night he was lying in bed.

3 Samuel was also in bed in the Lord's house, where the Ark of the Agreement was. God's lamp was still burning.

4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel answered, "I am here!"

5 He ran to Eli and said, "I am here. You called me." But Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." So Samuel went back to bed.

6 The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel again went to Eli and said, "I am here. You called me." Again Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed."

7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the Lord had not spoken directly to him yet.

8 The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "I am here. You called me." Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy.

9 So he told Samuel, "Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, 'Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in bed.

10 The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel said, "Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening."

11 The Lord said to Samuel, "Watch, I am going to do something in Israel that will shock those who hear about it.

12 At that time I will do to Eli and his family everything I promised, from beginning to end.

13 I told Eli I would punish his family always, because he knew his sons were evil. They acted without honor, but he did not stop them.

14 So I swore to Eli's family, 'Your guilt will never be removed by sacrifice or offering.'"

15 Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision,

16 but Eli called to him, "Samuel, my son!" Samuel answered, "I am here."

17 Eli asked, "What did the Lord say to you? Don't hide it from me. May God punish you terribly if you hide from me anything he said to you."

18 So Samuel told Eli everything and did not hide anything from him. Then Eli said, "He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is best."

19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up; he did not let any of Samuel's messages fail to come true.

20 Then all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew Samuel was a true prophet of the Lord.

21 And the Lord continued to show himself at Shiloh, and he showed himself to Samuel through his word.