²⁰ “In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector^(A) for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be broken, though not in anger^[a] or in battle.

²¹ “In his place a despised^(B) person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come during a time of peace^[b](C) and seize the kingdom by intrigue. ²² A flood of forces will be swept away before him; they will be broken, as well as the covenant prince. ²³ After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully. He will rise to power with a small nation.^{[c] 24} During a time of peace,^[d] he will come into the richest parts of the province^(D) and do what his fathers and predecessors never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will make plans against fortified cities, but only for a time.

²⁵ “With a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will prepare for battle with an extremely large and powerful army, but he will not succeed, because plots will be made against him. ²⁶ Those who eat his provisions^(E) will destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain. ²⁷ The two kings, whose hearts are bent on evil, will speak lies^(F) at the same table but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.^{(G) 28} The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant;^[e] he will take action, then return to his own land.

²⁹ “At the appointed time he will come again to the South, but this time^[f] will not be like the first. ³⁰ Ships of Kittim^[g](H) will come against him, and being intimidated, he will withdraw. Then he will rage against the holy covenant and take action. On his return, he will favor those who abandon the holy covenant. ³¹ His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the regular sacrifice^(I) and set up the abomination of desolation.^{(J) 32} With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.^{(K) 33} Those who have insight among the people^(L) will give understanding to many, yet they will fall by the sword and flame,^(M) and they will be captured and plundered for a time. ³⁴ When they fall, they will be helped by some, but many others will join them insincerely.^{(N) 35} Some of those who have insight will fall so that they may be refined,^(O) purified, and cleansed^(P) until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

³⁶ “Then the king will do whatever he wants.^(Q) He will exalt and magnify himself above every god,^(R) and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.^(S) He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed,^(T) because what has been decreed will be accomplished. ³⁷ He will not show regard for the gods^[h] of his ancestors, the god desired by women, or for any other god,^(U) because he will magnify himself above all. ³⁸ Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his ancestors did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. ³⁹ He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him,^[i] making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward.