The Kings of the South and the North

² “Now then, I tell you the truth:^(A) 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.^(B)

⁵ They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

⁶ At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,^[a](A) they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.^(B)

²⁶ “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,^(A) but seal^(B) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”^(C)

⁵ He who was seated on the throne^(A) said, “I am making everything new!”^(B) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”^(C)

³⁷ “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.^(A) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”^(B)

³⁸ “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.^(C)

³⁵ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God^(A) came—and Scripture cannot be set aside^(B)—

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.

²⁰ So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece^(A) will come; ²¹ but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.^(B) (No one supports me against them except Michael,^(C) your prince.