⁶ Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

² Some men brought to him a paralyzed man,^(A) lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith,^(B) he said to the man, “Take heart,^(C) son; your sins are forgiven.”^(D)

²² Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.”

But Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.”

¹⁶ He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”

Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”

²⁹ As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son,^(A) he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?”^(B) And he said, “God be gracious to you,^(C) my son.”