17. His intention will be to come with the strength of his entire kingdom, but he will reach an agreement with him. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to destroy the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.
18. Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and capture many. But a commander will put an end to his insolence and pay him back for his insolence.
19. He will then turn his face toward the strongholds of his own land, but he will stumble and fall, not to be found again.
20. “In his place will arise one who will dispatch a tax collector to extract tribute for royal glory, but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or battle.
21. “Then in his place will arise a despicable person, on whom royal honor has not been conferred. He will come in a time of tranquility, and seize the kingdom through intrigue.
22. Armies will be utterly swept away from before him and will be broken, as well as the leader of the covenant.
23. After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; he will rise to power with a small force.
24. Without warning, he will invade the richest province and accomplish what his fathers or predecessors were unable to do. He will lavish on them plunder, loot and spoils. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, though only for a while.
25. “He will summon his strength and courage against the king of the south with a great army. The king of the south will wage war with a very large and mighty army, but he will not succeed because of plots devised against him.
26. Those who eat his delicacies will destroy him, and his army will be swept away; many will be slain in battle.
27. These two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and speak lies, but to no avail, for the end will still come at the appointed time.
28. The king of the north will return to his own land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action and then return to his own land.
29. “At the appointed time he will invade the south again, only this time the outcome will not be as before.
30. The ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his rage against the holy covenant. When he returns, he will favor those who forsake the holy covenant.
31. “His forces will rise up and profane the fortified Temple; they will stop the daily offering and set up the abomination of desolation.
32. With smooth words he will seduce those who act wickedly against the covenant, but the people who know their God will stand strong and prevail.
33. Those who are wise among the people will instruct many, though for many days they will fall by the sword, or be burned, captured or pillaged.
34. When they stumble, they will receive a little help, but many will join them deceitfully.
35. Even some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end—for it will still come at the appointed time.
36. “So the king will do as he pleases, exalting and magnifying himself above every god. He will even speak outrageous things against the God of gods. He will prosper until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decided will be done.