⁸ While I was contemplating the horns, behold, ^(A)another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, ^[a]this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and ^(B)a mouth uttering great boasts.

¹¹ Then I kept looking because of the sound of the ^[a]boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the ^(A)burning ^[b]fire.

²⁰ and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and ^[a]which was larger in appearance than its associates.

²⁵ He will ^(A)speak ^[a]out against the ^(B)Most High and ^(C)wear down the ^[b]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make ^(D)alterations in times and in law; and ^[c]they will be given into his hand for a ^[d](E)time, ^[e]times, and half a ^[f]time.

³⁶ “Then the king will ^(A)do as he pleases, and he will exalt and ^(B)magnify himself above every god and will ^(C)speak ^[a]monstrous things against the ^(D)God of gods; and he will prosper until the ^(E)indignation is finished, for that which is ^(F)decreed will be done.

^3 (A)Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the ^[a](B)apostasy comes first, and the ^(C)man of lawlessness is revealed, the ^(D)son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above ^[b](E)every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(F)displaying himself as being God. ⁵ Do you not remember that ^(G)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶ And you know ^(H)what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. ⁷ For ^(I)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^(J)he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. ⁸ Then that lawless one ^(K)will be revealed whom the Lord will slay ^(L)with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^(M)appearance of His ^[c]coming; ⁹ that is, the one whose ^[d]coming is in accord with the activity of ^(N)Satan, with all power and ^[e](O)signs and false wonders, ¹⁰ and with ^[f]all the deception of wickedness for ^(P)those who perish, because they did not receive the love of ^(Q)the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ For this reason ^(R)God ^[g]will send upon them ^[h]a ^(S)deluding influence so that they will believe ^[i]what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be ^[j]judged who ^(T)did not believe the truth, but ^[k](U)took pleasure in wickedness.

^13 (V)But we should always give thanks to God for you, ^(W)brethren beloved by the Lord, because ^(X)God has chosen you ^[l]from the beginning ^(Y)for salvation ^[m](Z)through sanctification ^[n]by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴ It was for this He ^(AA)called you through ^(AB)our gospel, ^[o]that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brethren, ^(AC)stand firm and ^(AD)hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^(AE)by word of mouth or ^(AF)by letter ^[p]from us.

^16 (AG)Now may our Lord Jesus Christ ^(AH)Himself and God our Father, who has ^(AI)loved us and given us eternal comfort and ^(AJ)good hope by grace, ^17 (AK)comfort and ^(AL)strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.