At the endof tendaystheir appearanceseemedbetterand they were fatterthanallthe youthswhohad been eatingthe king'schoicefood.
Betteris the littleof the righteousThanthe abundanceof manywicked.
"But you shall servethe LORDyour God,and He will blessyour breadand your water;and I will removesicknessfrom your midst.
It is the blessingof the LORDthat makesrich,And He addsnosorrowto it.
So he listenedto them in thismatterand testedthem for tendays.
"You have sownmuch,but harvestlittle;[you] eat,but [there is] not [enough] to be satisfied;[you] drink,but [there is] not [enough] to becomedrunk;[you] puton clothing,but nooneis warm[enough]; and he who earns,earnswages[to put] into a pursewith holes."
"[You] lookfor much,but behold,[it comes] to little;when you bring[it] home,I blowit [away]. Why?"declaresthe LORDof hosts,"Becauseof My housewhich[lies] desolate,while eachof you runsto his own house.
"Ifyou do not listen,and ifyou do not takeit to heartto givehonorto My name,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"then I will sendthe curseupon you and I will curseyour blessings;and indeed,I have cursedthem [already], becauseyou are not taking[it] to heart.
But He answeredand said,"It is written,MANSHALL NOT LIVEON BREADALONE,BUT ON EVERYWORDTHAT PROCEEDSOUT OF THE MOUTHOF GOD.'"
