27. A man of God came to ELI, and said to him, "The LORD says, 'Did I reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house?

28. Didn't I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? Didn't I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

29. Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?'

30. "Therefore The LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever.' But now the LORD says, 'Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.

31. Behold , the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father's house, that there will not be an old man in your house.

32. You will see the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which I will give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

33. The man of yours, whom I don't cut off from my altar, will consume your eyes and grieve your heart; and all the increase of your house will die in the flower of their age.

34. "'This will be the sign to you, that will come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they will both die.

35. I will raise me up a faithful priest, that will do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind. I will build him a sure house; and he will walk before my anointed forever.

36. It will happen, that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and will say, "Please put me into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread."'"

1. The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before ELI. The LORD's word was precious in those days. There were not many visions, then.

2. At that time, when ELI was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),

3. and God's lamp hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in The LORD's temple, where God's ark was;

4. The LORD called Samuel; and he said, "Here I am."

5. He ran to ELI, and said, "Here I am; for you called me."He said, "I didn't call. Lie down again."He went and lay down.

6. The LORD called yet again, "Samuel!"Samuel arose and went to ELI, and said, "Here I am; for you called me."He answered, "I didn't call, my son. Lie down again."

7. Now Samuel didn't yet know The LORD, neither was The LORD's word yet revealed to him.

8. The LORD called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to ELI, and said, "Here I am; for you called me."ELI perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9. Therefore ELI said to Samuel, "Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, The LORD; for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10. The LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"Then Samuel said, "Speak; for your servant hears."

11. The LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

12. In that day I will perform against ELI all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.

13. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he didn't restrain them.

14. Therefore I have sworn to the house of ELI, that the iniquity of ELI's house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever."

15. Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of The LORD's house. Samuel feared to show ELI the vision.

16. Then ELI called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my son!"He said, "Here I am."

17. He said, "What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don't hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you."

18. Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him.He said, "It is The LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."

19. Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.

20. All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of The LORD.

21. The LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by The LORD's word.