27. One day a prophet came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord:When your ancestors were slaves of the king of Egypt, I came and showed them who I am.
28-29. Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests. I wanted them to offer sacrifices and burn incense to me and to find out from me what I want my people to do. I commanded everyone to bring their sacrifices here where I live, and I allowed you and your family to keep those that were not offered to me on the altar.But you honour your sons instead of me! You don't respect the sacrifices and offerings that are brought to me, and you've all got fat from eating the best parts.
30. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised to let your family serve me as priests for ever, but now I tell you that I cannot do this any longer! I honour anyone who honours me, but I put a curse on anyone who hates me.
31. The time will come when I will kill you and everyone else in your family. Not one of you will live to an old age.
32. Your family will have a lot of trouble. I will be kind to Israel, but everyone in your family will die young.
33. If I let anyone from your family be a priest, his life will be full of sadness and sorrow. But most of the men in your family will die a violent death!
34. To prove to you that I will do these things, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will die on the same day.