1 Samuel 3 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

The boy Samuel was serving Yahweh under Eli's guidance. In those days, a direct word from Yahweh was rare — visions were not common.

One night, Eli was lying down in his usual place. His eyesight had gotten so bad he could barely see.

The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in Yahweh's house, where the chest of God was kept.

Then Yahweh called out, "Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "I'm here!"

He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am — you called me." But Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back and lie down." So he went back and lay down.

Yahweh called again, "Samuel!" So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am — you called me." But Eli said, "I didn't call you, my son. Go back and lie down."

Now Samuel didn't yet know Yahweh personally — Yahweh's word had never come directly to him before.

Yahweh called Samuel a third time. He got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am — you called me." Then Eli realized that it was Yahweh calling the boy.

So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down. If he calls you again, say, 'Speak, Yahweh — your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Then Yahweh came and stood there, calling just as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak — your servant is listening."

Yahweh said to Samuel, "Pay attention — I'm about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it ring."

On that day, I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family — start to finish.

I told him that I would judge his family permanently, because he knew his sons were treating what's sacred with contempt and he did nothing to stop them.

And so I've sworn to Eli's family: the corruption of Eli's household will never be wiped clean by sacrifice or offering — ever.

Samuel lay there until morning, then opened the doors of Yahweh's house. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.

But Eli called to him, "Samuel, my son!" Samuel answered, "I'm here."

Eli said, "What did he say to you? Don't hide anything from me. May God deal with you severely — and then some — if you hide a single word of what he said to you."

So Samuel told him everything and didn't hide a single thing. Eli said, "He is Yahweh. Let him do what he sees as right."

Samuel grew up, and Yahweh was with him. He didn't let any of Samuel's words fall to the ground.

All of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, recognized that Samuel had been confirmed as Yahweh's prophet.

And Yahweh continued to appear at Shiloh, because there Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel through his word.