25. “With a large army he will summon his power and courage against the southern king, who will prepare for war with a large, strong army. But the southern king won’t be able to withstand him because of the schemes devised against him.
26. People who eat the king’s rich food will ruin him. His army will be overwhelmed, and many will die in battle.
27. The two kings will both plan to do evil. They will sit at the same table and tell lies. But they will not succeed, because the end must wait until the appointed time.
28. The northern king will return to his country with a lot of wealth. He will be determined to fight against the holy promise. He will take action and return to his own country.
29. “At the appointed time he will again invade the south, but this time will be different from the first.
30. Ships will come from the west to attack him, and he will be discouraged and turn back. Angry at the holy promise, he will return, take action, and favor those who abandon the holy promise.
31. His forces will dishonor the holy place (the fortress), take away the daily burnt offering, and set up the disgusting thing that causes destruction.
32. With flattery he will corrupt those who abandon the promise. But the people who know their God will be strong and take action.
33. “People who are wise will help many to understand. But for some time they will be defeated by swords and flames. They will be captured and looted.
34. As they are being defeated, they will get a little help, but many who are not sincere will join them.
35. Some of the wise people will be defeated in order to refine, purify, and make them white until the end times. But the appointed time is still to come.
36. “The king will do as he pleases. He will highly honor himself above every god. He will say amazing things against the God of gods. He will succeed until God’s anger is over, because what has been decided must be done.
37. He will have no interest in the gods of his ancestors or desire for women. He will have no interest in any god, because he will make himself greater than anyone else.
38. Instead, he will honor the god of fortresses. With gold, silver, precious stones, and other expensive things he will honor a god his ancestors never heard of.
39. With the help of a foreign god, he will deal with strong fortresses. He will give high honors to those who acknowledge him, make them rulers over many people, and distribute land for a price.
40. “In the end times the southern king will attack him. The northern king will rush at him like a storm with chariots, horses, and many ships. He will invade countries, overwhelm them, and pass through their land.