¹⁵ Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak;^(A) I am too young.”^(B)

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid^(C) of them, for I am with you^(D) and will rescue^(E) you,” declares the Lord.^(F)

¹⁰ When Timothy^(A) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord,^(B) just as I am. ¹¹ No one, then, should treat him with contempt.^(C) Send him on his way^(D) in peace^(E) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

¹⁰ “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors,^(A) so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased^(B) with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept^(C) no offering^(D) from your hands.

⁹ Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.^(A)