11 “玛代人大流士元年,我去帮助、护卫米迦勒。 现在我要把真相告诉你。波斯将再有三位王兴起,随后的第四位王远比其他王富有。他靠财富强盛后,便会煽动众民去攻打希腊国。 那时必有一位英勇的王兴起,执掌大权,随心所欲。 但他兴起后不久,他的国必土崩瓦解,在天下一分为四,既不归他的后代统治,也不如他掌权时强盛。因为他的国必被连根拔除,归给外人。

“南方王必强盛,他的将领中将有一位比他更强盛,这人执掌王权,势力强大。 若干年后,南方王将与北方王联盟。南方王的女儿将到北方王那里缔结盟约。但她必保不住自己的势力,王权也无法长久。她和她的随从、父亲和辅佐者必遭杀害。

“她家族中必有一人继承王位,率军攻打北方王,侵入他们的堡垒,击败他们, 将他们的神像、铸造的偶像及金银宝器掳到埃及。此后数年,他不再去攻击北方王。 后来,北方王必侵入南方王的国土,但终必撤回本国。

10 “北方王的儿子们必发动战争,召集大军,如洪水席卷而来,直打到南方王的堡垒。 11 南方王必大怒,出来迎战北方王的大军,并击败他们。 12 南方王获胜后必心高气傲,杀戮成千上万的人,但他的胜利不能持久。 13 因为数年后,北方王必召集更庞大的军队,带着大量装备卷土重来。

14 “那时,许多人必起来反抗南方王。你同胞中的残暴之徒也必反叛,从而使异象应验,但他们必失败。 15 北方王必修筑高台攻取南方王的坚城,南方的军兵必无力抵挡,就是精兵也抵挡不住。 16 北方王必为所欲为,所向无敌。他必侵占佳美之地,手握毁灭之权。 17 他决意倾全国之力而来,与南方王建立联盟,并将自己的女儿嫁给南方王,旨在推翻他的国。但北方王的计划必然失败,毫无收益。

18 “后来,他将转而攻打沿海地区,征服许多地方。但一位将领必制止他的嚣张气焰,使他自取其辱。 19 他将返回本国的堡垒,从此一蹶不振,销声匿迹。 20 继承他王位的人将派税吏横征暴敛,以维持王国的荣耀。但不久他必灭亡,并非死于民怨,也非死于战争。

21 “接着继位的是一个卑鄙的人。他无权继位,却乘人不备用奸计夺取王位。 22 他横扫千军,击溃他们,包括盟国的王。 23 他与人结盟后,必行欺诈,借不多的人掌握大权。 24 他必乘人不备入侵最富庶的地区,行他祖先从未行过的事,将掳掠的财物分给部下,并策划攻打堡垒,但这都是短暂的。 25 他集中力量,鼓起勇气,率领大军进攻南方王。南方王也率领强大的军队迎战,却敌不过他,因为有人暗算南方王。 26 南方王必遭亲信暗算,全军溃败,许多人被杀。 27 两个王心怀叵测,同席而坐,尔虞我诈,但都不成功,因为结局必在所定的时间到来。 28 北方王必带着大量财物回国,但他决意反对圣约,在回国的路上任意妄为。

29 “到了所定的时间,他必再次攻打南方,但结果与上次不同, 30 因为基提的战船必来攻击他,使他丧胆而回。他必向圣约之民发泄愤怒,任意妄为,支持背弃圣约的人。 31 他的军队必亵渎圣地,亵渎那堡垒,废除日常献的祭,设立带来毁灭的可憎之物。 32 他必花言巧语笼络违背圣约的人,但认识上帝的人必奋起反抗。 33 那些智者必教导许多民众,但他们将在一段时间内被刀剑杀戮,或被烧死,或被掳去,或被抢掠。 34 他们败亡时必得不到多少援助,许多人并非真心实意地加入他们的行列。 35 有些智者将被害,但这是为了熬炼、净化他们,使他们洁白无瑕,一直到末了。因为结局必在所定的时间到来。

36 “北方王必任意妄为,自高自大,自以为超越一切神明,肆意诋毁万神之神。他必亨通,一直到上帝发烈怒的日子结束。因为所定的必然成就。 37 他不尊崇他祖先的神明,也不尊崇妇女们爱慕的神明或其他任何神明,因为他自认为超越一切。 38 他反倒祭拜他祖先不认识的堡垒之神,向它献上金银宝石及贵重的礼物。 39 他必靠外族神明的帮助攻打坚固的堡垒,将尊荣赐给顺从他的人,派他们治理民众,分给他们土地作奖赏。

40 “到了末后,南方王必与北方王交战。北方王必率领战车、骑兵和大批战船攻击他,又如洪水般横扫列国。 41 他必侵入佳美之地,杀死成千上万的人,只有以东、摩押及亚扪人的首领得以逃脱。 42 他必攻击列国,埃及也无法幸免。 43 他必掌管埃及的金银财宝,利比亚人和古实人必归顺他。 44 但从东方和北方传来的消息必令他震惊,他必大怒,出兵杀戮、毁灭许多人。 45 他必在海和荣美的圣山之间搭起他宫殿般的帐幕。但他必灭亡,无人相助。

11 A prophecy of the kingdoms, which should be enemies to the Church of God, as of Persia, 3 Of Greece, 5 of Egypt, 28 of Syria, 36 and of the Romans.

Also I, in the first year of Darius of the Medes, even I [a]stood to encourage and to strengthen him.

And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet [b]three kings in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength, and by his riches he shall stir up [c]all against the realm of Greece.

But a [d]mighty King shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his pleasure.

And when he shall stand up, [e]his kingdom shall be broken, [f]and shall be divided toward the [g]four winds of heaven: and not to his [h]posterity, nor according to [i]his dominion, which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up even to be for others besides [j]those.

And the [k]King of the South shall be mighty, and one of [l]his princes, and shall prevail against him, and bear rule: his dominion shall be a great dominion.

And in the end of years they shall be joined together: for the King’s [m]daughter of the South shall come to the King of the North to make an agreement, but she shall not retain the power of the [n]arm, neither shall [o]he continue, nor his [p]arm: but she shall be delivered to death, and they that brought her, and he [q]that begat her, and he that comforted her, in these times.

But out of the bud of her [r]roots shall one stand up in his stead, [s]which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the King of the North, and do with them as he list, and shall prevail,

And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods: with their molten images, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold, and he shall continue [t]more years than the king of the North.

So the king of the South shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

10 Wherefore his [u]sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a mighty great army: and one [v]shall come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he [w]return, and be stirred up at his fortress.

11 And the King of the South shall be angry, and shall come forth, and fight with him, even with the king of the North: for he shall set forth a great [x]multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand.

12 Then the multitude shall be proud, and their heart shall be lifted up: for he shall cast down thousands: but he shall not still prevail,

13 For the King of the North [y]shall return, and shall set forth a greater multitude than afore, and shall come forth (after certain years) with a mighty army, and great riches.

14 And at the same time there shall [z]many stand up against the king of the South: also the rebellious children of thy [aa]people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, but they shall fall.

15 So the King of the North shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the strong city: and the arms of the South shall [ab]not resist, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

16 But he that shall come, shall do unto him as he list, and none shall stand against him: and he shall stand in the [ac]pleasant land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

17 Again he shall [ad]set his face to enter with the power of his whole kingdom, and his confederates with him: thus shall he do, and he shall give him the [ae]daughter of women to destroy [af]her: but [ag]she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.

18 After this shall he turn his face unto the [ah]isles, and shall take many, but a prince [ai]shall cause his shame to light upon him, besides that he shall cause his own shame to turn upon [aj]himself.

19 For he shall turn his face toward the forts of [ak]his own land: but he shall be overthrown and fall, and be no more [al]found.

20 [am]Then shall stand up in his place in the glory of the kingdom, one that shall raise taxes: but after few days he shall be destroyed, neither in [an]wrath, nor in battle.

21 And in his place shall stand up a [ao]vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

22 And the [ap]arms shall be overthrown with a flood before him, and shall be broken: and also the prince of the [aq]covenant.

23 And after [ar]the league made with him, he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and overcome with a [as]small people.

24 He shall enter into the quiet and plentiful province, and he shall do that which his fathers [at]have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers: he shall divide among them the prey and the spoil, and the substance, yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strongholds, even for a [au]time.

25 Also he shall stir up his power, and his courage against the King of the South with a great army, and the King of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army: but he shall not [av]stand: for they shall forecast and practice against him.

26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of [aw]his meat, shall destroy him: and his army [ax]shall overflow: and many shall fall, and be slain.

27 And both these Kings’ hearts shall be to do [ay]mischief, and they shall talk of deceit at one table: but it shall not avail: for [az]yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

28 Then shall he return into his land with great [ba]substance: for his heart shall be against the holy covenant: so shall he do and return to his own land.

29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the South: but the last shall not be as the first.

30 For the ships [bb]of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be sorry and return and fret against the holy covenant: so shall he do, he shall even return [bc]and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

31 And arms [bd]shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the Sanctuary [be]of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall set up the abominable desolation.

32 And such as wickedly [bf]break the covenant, shall he cause to sin by flattery: but the people that do know their God, shall prevail and prosper.

33 And they that understand among the [bg]people, shall instruct many: [bh]yet they shall fall by sword, and by flame, by captivity and by spoil many days.

34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a [bi]little help: but many shall cleave unto them [bj]feignedly.

35 And some of them [bk]of understanding shall fall to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, till the time be out: for there is a time appointed.

36 And the [bl]king shall do what him list: he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself against all, that is God, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper, till the wrath [bm]be accomplished: for the determination is made.

37 Neither shall he regard the [bn]God of his fathers, nor the desires [bo]of women, nor care for any God: for he shall magnify himself above all.

38 But in his place shall he honor the [bp]god Mauzzim, and the god whom his fathers knew not, shall he honor with [bq]gold and with silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

39 Thus shall he do in [br]the holds of Mauzzim with a strange god whom he shall acknowledge: he shall increase his glory, and shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

40 And at the end of time shall the king of the [bs]South push at him, and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through.

41 He shall enter also into the [bt]pleasant land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

42 He shall stretch forth his hands also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt, and of the Libyans, and of the black Mores where he shall pass.

44 But the tidings out of the East and the North shall [bu]trouble him: therefore he shall go forth [bv]with great wrath to destroy and root out many.

45 And he shall plant the tabernacles [bw]of his palace between the seas in the glorious and holy mountain, yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:1 The Angel assureth Daniel that God hath given him power to perform these things, seeing he appointed him to assist Darius when he overcame the Chaldeans.
  2. Daniel 11:2 Whereof Cambyses that now reigned, was the first, the second Smerdis, the third Darius the son of Hystaspis, and the fourth Xerxes, which all were enemies to the people of God, and stood against them.
  3. Daniel 11:2 For he raised up all the East countries to fight against the Greeks, and albeit he had in his army nine hundred thousand men, yet in four battles he was discomfited and fled away with shame.
  4. Daniel 11:3 That is, Alexander the great.
  5. Daniel 11:4 For when his estate was most flourishing, he overcame himself with drink, and so fell into a disease: or as some write, was poisoned by Cassander.
  6. Daniel 11:4 For his twelve chief Princes first divided his kingdom among themselves.
  7. Daniel 11:4 After this his Monarchy was divided into four: for Seleucus had Syria, Antigonus Asia minor, Cassander the kingdom of Macedonia, and Ptolemy Egypt.
  8. Daniel 11:4 Thus God revenged Alexander’s ambition and cruelty in causing his posterity to be murdered, partly of the father’s chief friends, and partly one of another.
  9. Daniel 11:4 None of these four shall be able to be compared to the power of Alexander.
  10. Daniel 11:4 That is, his posterity having no part thereof.
  11. Daniel 11:5 To wit, Ptolemy king of Egypt.
  12. Daniel 11:5 That is, Antiochus the son of Seleucus, and one of Alexander’s princes shall be more mighty: for he should have both Asia and Syria.
  13. Daniel 11:6 That is, Berenice the daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus shall be given in marriage to Antiochus Theos, thinking by this affinity that Syria and Egypt should have a continual peace together.
  14. Daniel 11:6 That force and strength shall not continue: for soon after Berenice and her young son after her husband’s death, was slain of her stepson Seleucus Callinicus the son of Laodice, the lawful wife of Antiochus, but put away for this woman’s sake.
  15. Daniel 11:6 Neither Ptolemy nor Antiochus.
  16. Daniel 11:6 Some read, seed, meaning, the child begotten of Berenice.
  17. Daniel 11:6 Some read, she that begate her, and thereby understand her nurse, which brought her up: so that all they that were occasion of this marriage, were destroyed.
  18. Daniel 11:7 Meaning, that Ptolemeus Euergetes after the death of his father Philadelphus should succeed in the kingdom being of the same stock that Berenice was.
  19. Daniel 11:7 To revenge the sister’s death against Antiochus Callinicus king of Syria.
  20. Daniel 11:8 For this Ptolemy reigned six and forty years.
  21. Daniel 11:10 Meaning, Seleucus and Antiochus the great, the sons of Callinicus, shall make war against Ptolemy Philopater the son of Philadelphus.
  22. Daniel 11:10 For his elder brother Seleucus died, or was slain while the wars were preparing.
  23. Daniel 11:10 That is, Philopater when he shall see Antiochus to take great dominions from him in Syria, and also ready to invade Egypt.
  24. Daniel 11:11 For Antiochus had six thousand horsemen, and threescore thousand footmen.
  25. Daniel 11:13 After the death of Ptolemy Philopater, who left Ptolemeus Epiphanes his heir.
  26. Daniel 11:14 For not only Antiochus came against him but also Philip King of Macedonia, and these two brought great power with them.
  27. Daniel 11:14 For under Onias which falsely alleged that place of Isa. 19:19, certain of the Jews retired with him into Egypt to fulfill this prophecy: also the Angel showeth that all these troubles which are in the Church, are by the providence and counsel of God.
  28. Daniel 11:15 The Egyptians were not able to resist Scopas Antiochus’ captain.
  29. Daniel 11:16 He showeth that he shall not only afflict the Egyptians, but also the Jews, and shall enter into their country, whereof he admonisheth them before, that they may know that all these things came by God’s providence.
  30. Daniel 11:17 This was the second battle that Antiochus fought against Ptolemy Epiphanes.
  31. Daniel 11:17 To wit, a beautiful woman which was Cleopatra Antiochus’ daughter.
  32. Daniel 11:17 For he regarded not the life of his daughter in respect of the kingdom of Egypt.
  33. Daniel 11:17 She shall not agree to his wicked counsel, but shall love her husband, as her duty requireth, and not seek his destruction.
  34. Daniel 11:18 That is, toward Asia, Greece, and those isles which are in the sea called Mediterranean: for the Jews called all countries isles which were divided from them by sea.
  35. Daniel 11:18 For whereas Antiochus was wont to contemn the Romans, and put their ambassadors to shame in all places, Atilius the Consul, or Lucius Scipio put him to flight, and caused his shame to turn on his own head.
  36. Daniel 11:18 By his wicked life, and obeying of foolish counsel.
  37. Daniel 11:19 For fear of the Romans he shall flee to his holds.
  38. Daniel 11:19 For when as under the pretence of poverty he would have robbed the Temple of Jupiter Dodomeus, the countrymen slew him.
  39. Daniel 11:20 That is, Seleucus shall succeed his father Antiochus.
  40. Daniel 11:20 Not by foreign enemies, or battle, but by treason.
  41. Daniel 11:21 Which was Antiochus Epiphanes, who as is thought was the occasion of Seleucus his brother’s death, and was of a vile, cruel and flattering nature, and defrauded his brother’s son of the kingdom, and usurped the kingdom without the consent of the people.
  42. Daniel 11:22 He showeth that great foreign powers shall come to help the young son of Seleucus against his uncle Antiochus: and yet shall be overthrown.
  43. Daniel 11:22 Meaning, Ptolemais Philopater’s son who was this child’s cousin germane, and is here called the prince of the covenant, because he was the chief, and all others followed his conduct.
  44. Daniel 11:23 For after the battle Philometor and his uncle Antiochus made a league.
  45. Daniel 11:23 For he came upon him at unawares, and when he suspected his uncle Antiochus nothing.
  46. Daniel 11:24 Meaning, in Egypt.
  47. Daniel 11:24 He will content himself with the small holds for a time, but ever labor by craft to attain to the chiefest.
  48. Daniel 11:25 He shall be overcome with treason.
  49. Daniel 11:26 Signifying his princes and the chief about him.
  50. Daniel 11:26 Declaring that his soldiers shall brast out and venture their life to slay and to be slain for the safeguard of their prince.
  51. Daniel 11:27 The uncle and the nephew shall take truce, and banquet together, yet in their hearts they shall imagine mischief one against the other.
  52. Daniel 11:27 Signifying, that it standeth not in the counsel of men to bring things to pass, but in the providence of God, who ruleth the Kings by a secret bridle, that they cannot do what they list themselves.
  53. Daniel 11:28 Which he shall take of the Jews in spoiling Jerusalem and the Temple, and this is told them before to move them to patience, knowing that all things are done by God’s providence.
  54. Daniel 11:30 That is, the Roman power shall come against him: for P. Popilius the Ambassador appointed him to depart in the Romans’ name, to which thing he obeyed, although with grief, and to revenge his rage he came against the people of God the second time.
  55. Daniel 11:30 With the Jews which shall forsake the covenant of the Lord: for first he was called against the Jews by Jason the high Priest, and this second time by Menelaus.
  56. Daniel 11:31 A great faction of the wicked Jews shall hold with Antiochus.
  57. Daniel 11:31 So called because the power of God was nothing diminished, although this tyrant set up in the Temple the image of Jupiter Olympius, and so began to corrupt the pure service of God.
  58. Daniel 11:32 Meaning, such as bare the name of Jews, but indeed were nothing less, for they sold their souls, and betrayed their brethren for gain.
  59. Daniel 11:33 They that remain constant among the people shall teach others by their example, and edify many in the true religion.
  60. Daniel 11:33 Whereby he exhorteth the godly to constancy, although they should perish a thousand times, and though their miseries endure never so long.
  61. Daniel 11:34 As God will not leave his Church destitute, yet will he not deliver it all at once, but so help, as they may still seem to fight under the cross, as he did in the time of the Maccabees, whereof he here prophesieth.
  62. Daniel 11:34 That is, there shall be even of this small number many hypocrites.
  63. Daniel 11:35 To wit, of them that fear God and will lose their life for the defense of true religion. Signifying also that the Church must continually be tried and purged, and ought to look for one persecution after another: for God hath appointed the time: therefore we must obey.
  64. Daniel 11:36 Because the Angel’s purpose is to show the whole course of the persecutions of the Jews unto the coming of Christ, he now speaketh of the Monarchy of the Romans which he noteth by the name of a King, who were without religion and condemned the true God.
  65. Daniel 11:36 So long the tyrants shall prevail as God hath appointed to punish his people: but he showeth that it is but for a time.
  66. Daniel 11:37 The Romans shall observe no certain form of religion as other nations, but shall change their gods at their pleasures, yea, contemn them and prefer themselves to their gods.
  67. Daniel 11:37 Signifying that they should be without all humanity: for the love of women is taken for singular or great love, as 2 Sam. 1:26.
  68. Daniel 11:38 That is, the god of power and riches: they shall esteem their own power above all their gods and worship it.
  69. Daniel 11:38 Under pretence of worshipping the gods, they shall enrich their city with the most precious jewels of all the world, because that hereby all men should have them in admiration for their power and riches.
  70. Daniel 11:39 Although in their hearts they had no religion, yet they did acknowledge the gods, and worshipped them in their temples, lest they should have been despised as Atheists: but this was to increase their fame and riches: and when they got any country, they so made others the rulers thereof, that the profit ever came to the Romans.
  71. Daniel 11:40 That is, both the Egyptians and the Syrians shall at length fight against the Romans, but they shall be overcome.
  72. Daniel 11:41 The Angel forewarneth the Jews that when they should see the Romans invade them, and that the wicked should escape their hands, that then they should not think but that all this was done by God’s providence, forasmuch as he warned them of it so long afore, and therefore he would still preserve them.
  73. Daniel 11:44 Hearing that Crassus was slain, and Antonius discomfited.
  74. Daniel 11:44 For Augustus overcame the Parthians, and recovered that which Antonius had lost.
  75. Daniel 11:45 The Romans after this reigned quietly throughout all countries, and from sea to sea, and in Judea: but at length for their cruelty God shall destroy them.

11 And in the first year of Darius(A) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

“Now then, I tell you the truth:(B) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(C) Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.(D) After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.(E) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted(F) and given to others.

“The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power[a] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father[b] and the one who supported her.

“One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North(G) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize their gods,(H) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.(I) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood(J) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.(K) 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps(L) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases;(M) no one will be able to stand against him.(N) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.(O) 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans[c] will not succeed(P) or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands(Q) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.(R) 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,(S) to be seen no more.(T)

20 “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.(U) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible(V) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.(W) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away(X) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.(Y) 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,(Z) and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.(AA) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,(AB) will sit at the same table and lie(AC) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.(AD) 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

29 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands(AE) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.(AF) Then he will turn back and vent his fury(AG) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.(AH) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.(AI) 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist(AJ) him.

33 “Those who are wise will instruct(AK) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.(AL) 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere(AM) will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,(AN) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself(AO) above every god and will say unheard-of things(AP) against the God of gods.(AQ) He will be successful until the time of wrath(AR) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.(AS) 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.[d]

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South(AT) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm(AU) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.(AV) 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land.(AW) Many countries will fall, but Edom,(AX) Moab(AY) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,(AZ) with the Libyans(BA) and Cushites[e] in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at[f] the beautiful holy mountain.(BB) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:6 Or offspring
  2. Daniel 11:6 Or child (see Vulgate and Syriac)
  3. Daniel 11:17 Or but she
  4. Daniel 11:39 Or land for a reward
  5. Daniel 11:43 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  6. Daniel 11:45 Or the sea and