27 One day one of God’s prophets came to Eli and told him, “This is what Yahweh says, ‘Didn’t I clearly reveal myself to your ancestors when they were Par’oh’s (Pharaoh’s) slaves in Mitsrayim (Egypt)? 28 And out of all the Israeli tribes, I chose your ancestor to be a priest to me, to go up on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the sacred apron in front of me.[ref] Plus I gave your ancestors the rights to all the burnt offerings made by the Israelis.[ref] 29 Why do you disrespect sacrifices and offerings that I commanded the people to bring to me at my residence. And why do you honour your sons more than me by fattening yourselves from the best of every offering of my people Yisrael (Israel)?’

30 “Therefore, this is what Yahweh the god of Yisrael declares: ‘I indeed said your ancestors and then your descendants would serve me forever.’ But now I declare this instead: ‘This cannot continue because I will honour those who honour me, but those who despise me will be side-lined. 31 Listen, the time is coming when I’ll bring you and your relatives to an end—none of your men will die of old age 32 and you’ll see distress in my residence. I’ll do good for the rest of Yisrael, but there’ll never be another old man in your home. 33 I won’t finish them off near my altar. Your eyes will fail and you’ll grieve inside, but your adult sons will die. 34 This will be the sign: it’ll turn out that your two sons Hofni and Pinhas will both die on the same day.[ref] 35 Then I’ll select another man to be a faithful priest to me—he’ll follow my desires and do what’s in my mind. I’ll make him and his faithful descendants to continue and to always serve me. 36 Any of your descendants who remain alive will have to go to him to request food and money and beg for some priestly work to earn something to eat.’ ”