24 No, my sons. The report I hear isn't good. And it's spreading among the Lord's people.
25 If a man sins against someone else, God can help that sinner. But if a man sins against the Lord, who can help him?" In spite of what their father Eli said, his sons didn't pay any attention to his warning. That's because the Lord had already decided to put them to death.
26 The boy Samuel continued to grow stronger. He also became more and more pleasing to the Lord and to people.
27 A man of God came to Eli. He told him, "The Lord says, 'I made myself clearly known to your relatives who lived long ago. I did it when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh.
28 I chose your father Aaron to be my priest. I chose him out of all of the tribes of Israel. I told him to go up to my altar. I told him to burn incense. I chose him to wear a linen apron when he served me. I also gave his family all of the offerings that are made with fire by the people of Israel.
29 " 'Why do all of you laugh at my sacrifices and offerings? I require them to be brought to the house where I live. Why do you honor your sons more than me? Why do you fatten yourselves on the best parts of every offering that is made by my people Israel?'
30 "The Lord is the God of Israel. He announced, 'I promised that your family and the family of Aaron would serve me as priests forever.' "But now the Lord announces, 'I will not let that happen! I will honor those who honor me. But I will turn away from those who look down on me.