And he rose at once and went to E-li, and said to him, Here am I, for thou did'st call me. But E-li said, I did not call thee, and sent the lad back to his bed once more.
Then Sam-u-el heard the voice a third time, and went to E-li and said, Here am I, for thou did'st call me.
And E-li knew it was the Lord who spoke to Sam-u-el. And he said to the lad, Go, lie down, and if he call thee, say, Speak, Lord, for I hear thee.
And Sam-u-el went and lay down. And the Lord came for the fourth time, and called, Sam-u-el—Sam-u-el!
And Sam-u-el said, Speak, Lord, for I hear thee.
And the Lord told Sam-u-el all that he meant to do to the house of E-li. He had let his sons go on in their sins, and they were to be put to death in a way that would make men fear God.
Sam-u-el lay still till day-light. Then he rose, but did not dare to tell E-li what God had told him.
But E-li called him and said, What did the Lord say to thee? I pray thee hide it not from me.
So Sam-u-el told E-li all that the Lord had said. When E-li heard it, he said, It is the Lord, let him do what he thinks is best.