12 Now the sons of Eli were evil and good-for-nothing men, having no knowledge of the Lord.

13 And the priests' way with the people was this: when any man made an offering, the priest's servant came while the flesh was being cooked, having in his hand a meat-hook with three teeth;

14 This he put into the pot, and everything which came up on the hook the priest took for himself. This they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.

15 And more than this, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was making the offering, Give me some of the flesh to be cooked for the priest; he has no taste for meat cooked in water, but would have you give it uncooked.

16 And if the man said to him, First let the fat be burned, then take as much as you will; then the servant would say, No, you are to give it to me now, or I will take it by force.

17 And the sin of these young men was very great before the Lord; for they gave no honour to the Lord's offerings.

12 Os filhos de Heli eram maus; não conheciam o Senhor.

13 Eis como se comportavam para com o povo: Quando alguém imolava uma vítima, vinha o servo do sacerdote no momento em que se cozia a carne, com um garfo de três dentes,

14 e metia-o na caldeira, na marmita, na panela ou no tacho, e tudo o que o tridente trazia, tomava-o para o sacerdote. Assim faziam a todos os israelitas que vinham a Silo.

15 Antes que queimassem a gordura, vinha o servo do sacerdote dizer ao que sacrificava: Dá-me a carne de assar para o sacerdote; ele não aceitará carne cozida, mas unicamente a carne crua.

16 O homem respondia-lhe: É preciso que se queime antes a gordura; depois disto tomarás o que quiseres. Não, respondia o servo, dá-me logo, senão tomarei à força.

17 Era muito grande a iniqüidade desses moços aos olhos de Deus, porque atraíam o desprezo sobre as ofertas feitas ao Senhor.