1 Entretanto, o menino Samuel continuava a servir o Senhor como assistente de Eli. As mensagens diretas, da parte do Senhor, eram muito raras naqueles tempos; 2 mas uma certa noite aconteceu o seguinte:

Eli, que já tinha quase perdido a vista, devido à sua muita idade, foi deitar-se no seu quarto. 3 A lâmpada de Deus ainda não se tinha apagado*3.3 Lâmpada do santuário que, segundo Êx 27.21, devia estar acesa desde a tarde até pela manhã. e Samuel dormia no tabernáculo do Senhor, perto da arca. 4 E o Senhor chamou por ele: "Samuel! Samuel!"

"Sim! Que é?", respondeu Samuel. 5 Levantou-se e correu a ir ter com Eli: "Aqui estou. Que desejas?"

"Mas eu não te chamei", disse-lhe Eli. "Vai deitar-te." Samuel retirou-se e foi deitar-se.

6 Então o Senhor chamou-o novamente e Samuel tornou a saltar da cama e a ir ter com Eli: "Que é? Necessitas de alguma coisa?"

"Mas eu não te chamei, meu filho", respondeu-lhe Eli. "Vai outra vez para a cama."

7 Samuel nunca tinha recebido uma mensagem da parte de Senhor anteriormente. 8 Então o Senhor chamou por ele terceira vez e, tal como antes, Samuel ergueu-se da cama e apresentou-se junto de Eli: "De que é que precisas?"

Mas desta vez Eli deu-se conta de que era o Senhor que falava com a criança. 9 Por isso, disse a Samuel: "Olha, vai deitar-te de novo e se ouvires chamarem-te mais alguma vez, diz assim: ‘Fala, Senhor, porque o teu servo está a ouvir.’ " E Samuel voltou para a cama.

10 Então o Senhor veio e ali ficou e chamou-o como das outras vezes: "Samuel! Samuel!"

E Samuel respondeu: "Fala, Senhor, porque o teu servo está a ouvir."

11 E o Senhor disse a Samuel: "Vou fazer algo de espantoso em Israel. 12 Vou dar cumprimento a todas as tremendas coisas de que avisei Eli. 13 Avisei-o continuamente, a ele e à sua família, de que os castigaria por causa dos filhos andarem a blasfemar de Deus, sem que tivesse feito nada para os impedir. 14 Agora pois, jurei que os pecados de Eli e dos seus filhos não serão mais perdoados com sacrifícios ou ofertas."

15 Samuel ficou na cama até amanhecer; depois abriu as portas do tabernáculo, como habitualmente, mas estava com receio de contar a visão a Eli. 16,17 No entanto, Eli chamou-o: "Meu filho, o que é que ele te disse? Conta-me tudo. Que Deus te castigue a ti se me esconderes alguma coisa!"

18 Então Samuel comunicou-lhe tudo o que o Senhor lhe dissera. "É a vontade do Senhor", replicou. "Que ele faça o que melhor lhe parecer."

19 Enquanto Samuel crescia, o Senhor estava com ele e cumpriu com tudo quanto tinha prometido. 20 Todo o Israel, de Dan até Berseba, ficou a saber que Samuel tinha sido confirmado como profeta do Senhor. 21 O Senhor continuou a transmitir mensagens a Samuel, em Silo, e ele comunicava-as ao povo de Israel.

1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.*3.7 Now…: or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the LORD, and before the word of the LORD was revealed unto him 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.*3.12 when…: Heb. beginning and ending 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.*3.13 For I…: or, And I will tell him*3.13 vile: or, accursed*3.13 restrained…: Heb. frowned not upon them 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17 And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.*3.17 more also: Heb. so add*3.17 thing: or, word 18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.*3.18 every…: Heb. all the things, or, words

19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.*3.20 established: or, faithful 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.