1 Samuel 2:27–36

²⁷A man of God came to Eli and said to him,^d “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family^A when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?^{e 28}Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house^B to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence.^f I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite food offerings. ²⁹Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship?^g You have honored your sons more than me,^h by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.’

³⁰“Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever.ⁱ But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor,^j but those who despise me will be disgraced.^{k 31}Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age.^{l 32}You will see distress in the place of worship,^m in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.^{n 33}Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief^C and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.^{DE 34}This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas:^o both of them will die on the same day.^p

³⁵“ ‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest^q for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him,^r and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.^{s 36}Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’ ”