1 Samuel ainda era menino e ajudava Eli na adoração a Deus, o Senhor. Naqueles dias poucas mensagens vinham do Senhor, e as visões também eram muito raras. 2 Certa noite Eli, já quase cego, estava dormindo no seu quarto. 3 Samuel dormia na Tenda Sagrada, onde ficava a arca da aliança. E a lâmpada de Deus ainda estava acesa. 4 Então o Senhor Deus chamou:

— Samuel, Samuel!

— Estou aqui! — respondeu ele. 5 Então correu para onde Eli estava e disse:

— O senhor me chamou? Estou aqui.

Mas Eli respondeu:

— Eu não chamei você. Volte para a cama.

E Samuel voltou.

6 Então o Senhor Deus tornou a chamar Samuel. O menino se levantou, foi aonde estava Eli e disse:

— O senhor me chamou? Estou aqui.

Mas Eli tornou a responder:

— Eu não chamei você, filho. Volte para a cama.

7 Samuel não conhecia o Senhor pois o Senhor ainda não havia falado com ele.

8 Aí o Senhor chamou Samuel pela terceira vez. Ele se levantou, foi aonde Eli estava e disse:

— O senhor me chamou? Estou aqui.

Então Eli compreendeu que era o Senhor quem estava chamando o menino 9 e ordenou:

— Volte para a cama e, se ele chamar você outra vez, diga: "Fala, ó Senhor, pois o teu servo está escutando!"

E Samuel voltou para a cama.

10 Então o Senhor veio e ficou ali. E, como havia feito antes, disse:

— Samuel, Samuel!

— Fala, pois o teu servo está escutando! — respondeu Samuel.

11 E o Senhor disse:

— Eu vou fazer com o povo de Israel uma coisa tão terrível, que todos os que ouvirem a respeito disso ficarão apavorados. 12 Naquele dia farei contra Eli tudo o que disse a respeito da família dele, do começo até o fim. 13 Eu lhe disse que ia castigar a sua família para sempre porque os seus filhos disseram coisas más contra mim. Eli sabia que eu ia fazer isso, mas não os fez parar. 14 Por isso, juro à família de Eli que nenhum sacrifício ou oferta poderá apagar o seu terrível pecado.

15 Samuel ficou na cama até de manhã. Aí se levantou e abriu os portões da área da Tenda Sagrada. Ele estava com medo de falar com Eli sobre a visão que havia tido. 16 Mas Eli o chamou:

— Samuel, meu filho!

— Estou aqui! — respondeu ele.

17 — O que foi que Deus lhe disse? — perguntou Eli. — Não esconda nada de mim. Deus o castigará severamente se você não me contar tudo o que ele disse.

18 Então Samuel contou tudo, sem esconder nada. E Eli disse:

— Ele é Deus, o Senhor. Que ele faça tudo o que achar melhor!

19 E Samuel cresceu. O Senhor estava com ele e fazia tudo o que Samuel dizia que ia acontecer. 20 Assim todo o povo de Israel, do Norte ao Sul do país, ficou sabendo que Samuel era, de fato, um profeta do Senhor. 21 O Senhor continuou a aparecer em Siló, onde havia se revelado a Samuel e falado com ele. E a palavra de Samuel era respeitada por todo o povo de Israel.

1 Now the young Samuel was the servant of the Lord before Eli. In those days the Lord kept his word secret from men; there was no open vision.2 And at that time, when Eli was resting in his place, (now his eyes were becoming clouded so that he was not able to see,)3 And the light of God was still burning, while Samuel was sleeping in the Temple of the Lord where the ark of God was,4 The voice of the Lord said Samuel's name; and he said, Here am I.5 And running to Eli he said, Here am I, for you said my name. And Eli said, I did not say your name; go to your rest again. So he went back to his bed.6 And again the Lord said, Samuel. And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here am I; for you certainly said my name. But he said in answer, I said nothing, my son; go to your rest again.7 Now at that time Samuel had no knowledge of the Lord, and the revelation of the word of the Lord had not come to him.8 And for the third time the Lord said Samuel's name. And he got up and went to Eli and said, Here am I; for you certainly said my name. Then it was clear to Eli that the voice which had said the child's name was the Lord's.9 So Eli said to Samuel, Go back: and if the voice comes again, let your answer be, Say on, Lord; for the ears of your servant are open. So Samuel went back to his bed.10 Then the Lord came and said as before, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel made answer, Say on, Lord; for the ears of your servant are open.11 And the Lord said to Samuel, See, I will do a thing in Israel at which the ears of everyone hearing of it will be burning.12 In that day I will do to Eli everything which I have said about his family, from first to last.13 And you are to say to him that I will send punishment on his family for ever, for the sin which he had knowledge of; because his sons have been cursing God and he had no control over them.14 So I have made an oath to the family of Eli that no offering of meat or of meal which they may make will ever take away the sin of his family.15 And Samuel kept where he was, not moving till the time came for opening the doors of the house of God in the morning. And fear kept him from giving Eli an account of his vision.16 Then Eli said, Samuel, my son. And Samuel answering said, Here am I.17 And he said, What did the Lord say to you? Do not keep it from me: may God's punishment be on you if you keep from me anything he said to you.18 Then Samuel gave him an account of everything, keeping nothing back. And he said, It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.19 And Samuel became older, and the Lord was with him and let not one of his words be without effect.20 And it was clear to all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba that Samuel had been made a prophet of the Lord.21 And the Lord was seen again in Shiloh; for the Lord gave to Samuel in Shiloh the revelation of his word.