that I may eat a morsel of bread.
1 Kings Chapter 3
Samuel is four times called by the Lord: who revealeth to him the evil
that shall fall on Heli, and his house.
3:1. Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli, and the
word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest
vision.
Precious... That is, rare.
3:2. And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his
eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:
3:3. Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the
Lord, where the ark of God was.
3:4. And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I.
3:5. And he ran to Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. He
said: I did not call: go back and sleep. And he went and slept.
3:6. And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to
Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not
call thee, my son: return and sleep.
3:7. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither had the word of the
Lord been revealed to him.
3:8. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up
and went to Heli,
3:9. And said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood
that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep:
and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy
servant heareth. So Samuel went, and slept in his place.
3:10. And the Lord came, and stood, and he called, as he had called the
other times, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy
servant heareth.
3:11. And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold I do a thing in Israel: and
whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.
3:12. In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have
spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.
3:13. For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for
ever, for iniquity, because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did
not chastise them.
3:14. Therefore have I sworn to the house of Heli, that the iniquity of
his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever.
3:15. And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house
of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Heli.
3:16. Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he
answered: Here am I.
3:17. And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to
thee? I beseech thee hide it not
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