25. He will gather a large and powerful army, and with great courage he will attack the king of the south. The king of the south will meet him with a much stronger army, but he will lose the battle, because he will be betrayed
26. by members of the royal court. He will be ruined, and most of his army will be slaughtered.
27. The two kings will meet around a table and tell evil lies to each other. But their plans will fail, because God has already decided what will happen.
28. Then the king of the north will return to his country with great treasures. But on the way, he will attack the religion of God's people and do whatever else he pleases.
29. At the time God has decided, the king of the north will invade the southern kingdom again, but this time, things will be different.
30. Ships from the west will come to attack him, and he will be discouraged. Then he will start back to his own country and take out his anger on the religion of God's faithful people, while showing kindness to those who are unfaithful.
31. He will send troops to pollute the temple and the fortress, and he will stop the daily sacrifices. Then he will set up that “Horrible Thing” that causes destruction.
32. The king will use deceit to win followers from those who are unfaithful to God, but those who remain faithful will do everything possible to oppose him.
33. Wise leaders will instruct many of the people. But for a while, some of these leaders will either be killed with swords or burnt alive, or else robbed of their possessions and thrown into prison.
34. They will receive only a little help in their time of trouble, and many of their followers will be treacherous.
35. Some of those who are wise will suffer, so that God will make them pure and acceptable until the end, which will still come at the time he has decided.
36. This king will do as he pleases. He will proudly claim to be greater than any god and will insult the only true God. Indeed, he will be successful until God is no longer angry with his people.