1 uSamuweli 3:1-20

Umntwana uSamuweli wamkhonza uJehova phambi kuka-Eli. Izwi likaJehova lalingavamile ngalezo zinsuku; nombono wawuyivelakancane. Kwathi ngaleso sikhathi u-Eli elele endaweni yakhe – amehlo akhe ayeqale ukufiphala waze wangaba nakho ukubona – isibani sikaNkulunkulu sasingakacimi, uSamuweli elele ethempelini likaJehova, lapho kwakukhona umphongolo kaNkulunkulu, uJehova wambiza uSamuweli; wathi yena: “Ngilapha.” Wagijimela ku-Eli, wathi: “Ngilapha, njengokuba ungibizile.” Wathi: “Angikubizanga; buya ulale.” Wahamba, walala. UJehova waphinda wambiza uSamuweli. USamuweli wavuka, waya ku-Eli, wathi: “Ngilapha, njengokuba ungibizile.” Wathi: “Angikubizanga, ndodana yami; buya ulale.” Kepha uSamuweli wayengakamazi uJehova, nezwi likaJehova lalingakambulelwa kuye. UJehova wambiza uSamuweli ngokwesithathu. Wavuka, waya ku-Eli, wathi: “Ngilapha, njengokuba ungibizile.” U-Eli wayeseqonda ukuthi nguJehova ombizile umntwana. U-Eli wathi kuSamuweli: “Hamba, ulale; kuyakuthi uma ekubiza, usho ukuthi: ‘Khuluma, Jehova, ngokuba inceku yakho iyezwa.’ ” Wayesehamba uSamuweli, walala endaweni yakhe. UJehova wafika, wema, wambiza njengakwezinye izikhathi: “Samuweli, Samuweli!” USamuweli wathi: “Khuluma, ngokuba inceku yakho iyezwa.” UJehova wathi kuSamuweli: “Bheka, ngiyakwenza into kwa-Israyeli eziyakunkeneneza ngayo izindlebe zombili zabo bonke abayizwayo. Ngalolo suku ngiyakumehlisela u-Eli konke engikukhulumile ngendlu yakhe, kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube sekugcineni. Ngokuba ngimtshelile ukuthi ngiyakwahlulela indlu yakhe kuze kube phakade ngobubi abaziyo, lokhu amadodana akhe ayezehlisela isiqalekiso, engawakhuzanga. Ngalokho ngifungile ngendlu ka-Eli ukuthi ububi bendlu ka-Eli abuyikuhlangulwa ngomhlatshelo nangomnikelo kuze kube phakade.” USamuweli walala kwaze kwasa, wavula iminyango yendlu kaJehova. USamuweli wesaba ukumtshela u-Eli umbono. U-Eli wayesembiza uSamuweli, wathi: “Samuweli, ndodana yami!” Wathi: “Ngilapha.” Wathi: “Yintoni owayikhulumayo kuwe na? Ake ungayifihli kimi; uNkulunkulu makenze njalo kuwe, enezele futhi, uma ungifihlela izwi elilodwa lakho konke lokho owakukhuluma kuwe.” USamuweli wayesemtshela konke, akamfihlelanga lutho. Wathi: “NguJehova; makenze okuhle emehlweni akhe.” USamuweli wakhula; uJehova wayenaye; akawisanga phansi nelilodwa lamazwi akhe. Wonke u-Israyeli kusukela kwaDani kuze kube seBeri Sheba wazi ukuthi uSamuweli uqinisiwe ukuba abe ngumprofethi kaJehova.