During those three weeks, I didn’t eat any fancy food. I didn’t eat any meat. I didn’t drink any wine. I didn’t put any oil on my head. I didn’t do any of these things for three weeks.
Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, [110] came down to meet King David. From the time the king had left Jerusalem until he came back in peace, Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes.
Then the man in the vision started talking again. He said, ‘Daniel, don’t be afraid. From the very first day you decided to have wisdom and to be humble in front of God. He has been listening to your prayers. I came to you because you have been praying.
He will take their idol gods. He will take their metal idols and their expensive things made from silver and gold. He will take those things away to Egypt. Then he will not bother the northern king for a few years.
Then King Darius went back to his house. He did not eat that night. He did not want anyone to come and entertain him. The king could not sleep all night.
You take unfair taxes {\cf2\super [69]} from poor people.\par You take loads of wheat from them.\par You build fancy houses with cut stone.\par But you will not live in those houses.\par You plant beautiful fields of grapes.\par But you will not drink the wine from them.\par
\{You soldiers that are destroying Nineveh\},\par take the silver!\par Take the gold!\par There are many things to take.\par There are many treasures!\par
It is my own body that I hit. I make it my slave. I do this so that I myself will not be thrown out \{by God\} after I have told other people \{about his blessings\}.