God

ADONAI makes poor, and he makes rich; he humbles, and he exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust, lifts up the needy from the trash pile; he gives them a place with leaders and assigns them seats of honor. "For the earth's pillars belong to ADONAI; on them he has placed the world.

He will guard the steps of his faithful, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. For it is not by strength that a person prevails -

those who fight ADONAI will be shattered; he will thunder against them in heaven ADONAI will judge the ends of the earth. He will strengthen his king and enhance the power of his anointed."

Elkanah went home to Ramah, while the child began ministering to ADONAI under the direction of 'Eli the cohen.

'Eli's sons were scoundrels who had no regard for ADONAI.

The sin of these young men was very serious in ADONAI's view, because they treated offerings made to ADONAI with contempt.

But Sh'mu'el ministered in the presence of ADONAI, wearing a linen ritual vest even though he was only a child.

'Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "May ADONAI give you children from this woman because of the boy you have loaned to ADONAI"; then they would go home.

So ADONAI took notice of Hannah, and she conceived and bore three more sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Sh'mu'el grew in the presence of ADONAI.

No, my sons, I don't hear ADONAI's people spreading a single good report!

If a person commits a sin against another person, the judges can mediate between them. But if a person commits a sin against ADONAI, who can intercede for him?" However, they wouldn't pay attention to what their father said, because ADONAI had decided to kill them.

The child Sh'mu'el kept growing and gaining favor both with ADONAI and with people.

A man of God came to 'Eli and told him, "Here is what ADONAI says: 'Didn't I reveal myself to your ancestor's clan when they were in Egypt, serving as slaves in Pharaoh's household?

Didn't I choose him out of all the tribes of Isra'el to be my cohen, go up to my altar, burn incense and wear a ritual vest in my presence? Didn't I assign to your ancestor's clan all the offerings of the people of Isra'el made by fire?

So why are you showing such disrespect for my sacrifices and offerings, which I ordered to be made at my dwelling? Why do you show more honor to your sons than to me, making yourselves fat with the choicest parts of all the offerings of Isra'el my people?'

"Therefore ADONAI the God of Isra'el says, 'I did indeed say that your family and your father's family would walk in my presence forever.' But now ADONAI says, 'Forget it! I respect those who respect me, but those who despise me will meet with contempt.

At a time when Isra'el is prospering, you will see a rival in my Dwelling; and never will anyone in your family live to old age.

Still, I won't cut off every one of your men from my altar; because that would make your eyes grow dim, and you would waste away. Nevertheless, all your descendants will die young.

I will raise up for myself a faithful cohen who will do what I want and what I intend. I will make his family faithful, and he will serve in the presence of my anointed one forever.

The child Sh'mu'el continued ministering to ADONAI under 'Eli's direction. Now, in those days ADONAI rarely spoke, and visions were few.

The lamp of God had not yet gone out; and Sh'mu'el had lain down to sleep in the sanctuary of ADONAI, where the ark of God was.

ADONAI called, "Sh'mu'el!" and he answered, "Here I am."

ADONAI called a second time, "Sh'mu'el!"Sh'mu'el got up, went to 'Eli and said, "Here I am - you called me." He answered, "I didn't call, my son; lie down again."

Now Sh'mu'el didn't yet know ADONAI; the word of ADONAI had not yet been revealed to him.