1 Samuel 3 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Lord Calls Out to Samuel

3 The boy Samuel served the Lord under the direction of Eli. In those days the Lord didn’t give many messages to his people. He didn’t give them many visions.

²One night Eli was lying down in his usual place. His eyes were becoming so weak he couldn’t see very well. ³Samuel was lying down in the Lord’s house. That’s where the ark of God was kept. The lamp of God was still burning. ⁴The Lord called out to Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” ⁵He ran over to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called out to me.”

But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

⁶Again the Lord called out, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “Here I am. You called out to me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.”

⁷Samuel didn’t know the Lord yet. That’s because the Lord still hadn’t given him a message.

⁸The Lord called out for the third time. He said, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “Here I am. You called out to me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If someone calls out to you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I’m listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰The Lord came and stood there. He called out, just as he had done the other times. He said, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel replied, “Speak. I’m listening.”

¹¹The Lord said to Samuel, “Pay attention! I am about to do something terrible in Israel. It will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. ¹²At that time I will do everything to Eli and his family that I said I would. I will finish what I have started. ¹³I told Eli I would punish his family forever. He knew his sons were sinning. He knew they were saying bad things about me. In spite of that, he did not stop them. ¹⁴So I made a promise to the family of Eli. I said, ‘The sins of Eli’s family will never be paid for by bringing sacrifices or offerings.’ ”

¹⁵Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision he had received. ¹⁶But Eli called out to him. He said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

¹⁷“What did the Lord say to you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide from me anything he told you. If you do, may God punish you greatly.” ¹⁸So Samuel told him everything. He didn’t hide anything from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is best.”

¹⁹As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him. He made everything Samuel said come true. ²⁰So all the Israelites recognized that Samuel really was a prophet of the Lord. Everyone from Dan all the way to Beersheba knew it. ²¹The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh. There he made himself known to Samuel through the messages he gave him.

1 Samuel 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 And the youth Samuel is serving Jehovah before Eli, and the word of Jehovah hath been precious in those days -- there is no vision broken forth. 2 And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Eli is lying down in his place, and his eyes have begun to be dim -- he is not able to see. 3 And the lamp of...
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1 Samuel 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 Forsooth the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli, and the word of the Lord was precious; in those days was none open revelation (for in those days there was no open revelation). 2 Therefore it was done in a day, Eli lay in his bed, and his eyes dimmed, and he might not see; (And so it w...
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1 Samuel 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

3 The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. Yahweh’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then. 2 At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see), 3 and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid...
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1 Samuel 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

3 The boy Samuel continued to serve the Eternal One under the guidance of Eli. In those days, messages from the Eternal were rare, and sacred dreams or visions were given to very few. 2 Eli, who was very old, had become almost blind. He was lying in his room; 3 it was late at night but before dawn ...
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1 Samuel 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Calling of Samuel3 Now the boy Samuel was in the service of Adonai under Eli. In those days the word of Adonai was rare—there were no visions breaking through. 2 One day, Eli was lying down in his place—now his eyes had grown dim so that he could not see, 3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out...
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1 Samuel 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Activity3 [a]Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place; 3...
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1 Samuel 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Activity3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place; 3 th...
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1 Samuel 3 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Activity3 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 G...
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1 Samuel 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)

1 Samuel 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

1 Samuel 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Activity3 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.(A)2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;(B)3 the lamp o...
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1 Samuel 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Lord Speaks to Samuel3 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. 2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleep...
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1 Samuel 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

Samuel’s Call3 Now the boy Samuel was working for the Lord with Eli. There were few words from the Lord given in those days, and there were not many special dreams. 2 At that time Eli was lying down in his own place. His eyes had become weak and he could not see well. 3 The lamp of God had not gon...
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1 Samuel 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Samuel’s First Prophecy3 Now (A)the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And (B)the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow (C)so dim that he ...
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1 Samuel 3 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The Lord calls Samuel3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out...
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1 Samuel 3 - New International Version (NIV)

The Lord Calls Samuel3 The boy Samuel ministered(A) before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare;(B) there were not many visions.(C) 2 One night Eli, whose eyes(D) were becoming so weak that he could barely see,(E) was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp(F) of God had...
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