The Lord Calls Samuel

3 The boy Samuel ministered^(A) before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare;^(B) there were not many visions.^(C)

² At that time I, Daniel, mourned^(A) for three weeks. ³ I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;^(B) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank^(C) of the great river, the Tigris,^{(D) 5} I looked up^(E) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,^(F) with a belt of fine gold^(G) from Uphaz around his waist. ⁶ His body was like topaz,^(H) his face like lightning,^(I) his eyes like flaming torches,^(J) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,^(K) and his voice^(L) like the sound of a multitude.

⁷ I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,^(M) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone,^(N) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,^(O) my face turned deathly pale^(P) and I was helpless.^{(Q) 9} Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.^(R)

¹⁰ A hand touched me^(S) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.^{(T) 11} He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,^(U) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,^(V) for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid,^(W) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble^(X) yourself before your God, your words^(Y) were heard, and I have come in response to them.^(Z)

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,^(A) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,^{(B) 20} and teaching^(C) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you^(D) always, to the very end of the age.”^(E)

⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service;^(A) you are God’s field,^(B) God’s building.^(C)