4 Then the Lord called, "Samuel!"
He answered, "I’m here." 5 He ran to Eli, and said, "I’m here—you called me."
"I didn’t call you," Eli replied. "Go back to bed." So Samuel went back to bed.
6 Then the Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up, went to Eli and said, "I’m here—you called me."
"I didn’t call you, my son," Eli replied. "Go back to bed."
7 (Samuel hadn’t yet come to know the Lord and had not received any message from him.)
8 The Lord called again for the third time, "Samuel!" He got up went to Eli and said, "I’m here—you called me." Then Eli realized that it was the Lord calling the boy.
9 Eli told Samuel, "Go back to bed, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, because your servant is listening.’" So Samuel went back to his bed.
10 The Lord came and stood there, calling just as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak, because your servant is listening."