1 Samuel 2:27–36

Prophecy Against the House of Eli

²⁷Now a man of God^u came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? ²⁸I chose^v your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense,^w and to wear an ephod^x in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings^y presented by the Israelites. ²⁹Why do you^e scorn my sacrifice and offering^z that I prescribed for my dwelling?^a Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

³⁰“Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.^b’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor,^c but those who despise^d me will be disdained.^{e 31}The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age,^{f 32}and you will see distress^g in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.^{h 33}Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendantsⁱ will die in the prime of life.

³⁴“ ‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign^j to you—they will both die^k on the same day.^{l 35}I will raise up for myself a faithful priest,^m who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointedⁿ one always. ³⁶Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead,^o “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.^p” ’ ”