18. He shall turn to the coastland and take many prisoners, but a commander shall put an end to his shameful conduct, so that he cannot retaliate.
19. He shall turn to the strongholds of his own land, but shall stumble and fall, to be found no more.
20. In his stead one shall arise who will send a collector of tribute through the glorious kingdom, but he shall soon be destroyed, though not in conflict or in battle.
21. “There shall arise in his place a despicable person, to whom the royal insignia shall not be given. He shall enter by stealth and seize the kingdom by fraud.
22. Armed forces shall be completely overwhelmed by him and crushed, even the prince of the covenant.
23. After making alliances, he shall treacherously rise to power with only a few supporters.
24. By stealth he shall enter prosperous provinces and do that which his fathers or grandfathers never did; he shall distribute spoil, plunder, and riches among them and devise plots against their strongholds.
25. He shall rouse his strength and courage to meet the king of the south with a great army; the king of the south shall go into battle with a very large and strong army, but he shall not stand because of the plots devised against him.
26. Even his table companions shall seek to destroy him, his army shall be overwhelmed, and many shall be struck down.
27. The two kings, resolved on evil, shall sit at table together and exchange lies, but they shall have no success, because the appointed end is not yet.
28. “He shall turn back toward his land with great riches, his mind set against the holy covenant; he shall take action and return to his land.
29. At the time appointed he shall come again to the south, but this time it shall not be as before.
30. When ships of the Kittim confront him, he shall lose heart and retreat. Then he shall rage against the holy covenant and take action; he shall again favor those who forsake the holy covenant.
31. Armed forces shall rise at his command and defile the sanctuary stronghold, abolishing the daily sacrifice and setting up the desolating abomination.
32. By his deceit he shall make some who were disloyal forsake the covenant; but those who remain loyal to their God shall take strong action.
33. Those with insight among the people shall instruct the many; though for a time the sword, flames, exile, and plunder will cause them to stumble.
34. When they stumble, they will be helped, but only a little; many shall join them, but out of treachery.