²⁷ A man of God came to Eli, saying to him,^[a] “This is what the Lord says: ‘When they were in Egypt and slaves^[b] to the house of Pharaoh, did I not reveal^[c] to the family of your ancestor Aaron^{[d] 28} that I had chosen him^[e] out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer up burnt offerings on my altar, burn incense, and carry^[f] the ephod in my presence? And did I not give to your ancestors’ family all the Israeli fire-offerings? ²⁹ Why, then, do all of you show contempt for^[g] my sacrifice and offering that I’ve commanded for my^[h] dwelling? And you honor your sons more than me in order to fatten yourselves^[i] from the best of all the offerings of my people Israel.’^[j]

³⁰ “Therefore, the Lord God of Israel has declared, ‘I did, in fact, say^[k] that your family and your ancestor’s family would walk before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares, ‘Far be it from me! The one who honors me I’ll honor, and the one who despises me is to be treated with contempt. ³¹ The time is coming when I’ll cut away^[l] at your family^[m] and your ancestor’s family^[n] until there are no old men left in your family. ³² Distress will settle down to live in your household, and despite all the good that I do for Israel,^[o] there will never be an old man in your family forever, and you will never again have an old man in my house.^{[p] 33} Any of you whom I don’t eliminate from serving at my altar will grow tired from weeping,^[q] and their^[r] souls will grieve. All the increase of your family will die by violence.^{[s] 34} Here’s a sign for you—your two sons Hophni and Phineas will both die on the same day! ³⁵ And I’ll raise up for myself a faithful^[t] priest who will do according to what is in my heart and according to my desire. I’ll build for him an enduring^[u] house and he will walk before my anointed one forever. ³⁶ Anyone who remains in your family will come and prostrate themselves before him for a small wage^[v] or a loaf of bread and will say,^[w] “Please put me in one of the priest’s offices so I can eat a piece of bread.”’”