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.

²⁵ And you are heirs^(A) of the prophets and of the covenant^(B) God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’^[a](C)

³⁰ Ships of the western coastlands^(A) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.^(B) Then he will turn back and vent his fury^(C) 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.^(D) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.^{(E) 32} With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist^(F) him.

²² Then an overwhelming army will be swept away^(A) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.^(B)

²⁴ He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.^(A)