²⁰ Then shall stand up in his place one that shall cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom; but within few days he shall be ^[a]destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. ²¹ And in his ^[b]place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries. ²² And the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of ^[c]the covenant. ²³ And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people. ²⁴ In time of security shall he come even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance: yea, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time. ²⁵ And 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 war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him. ²⁶ Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall ^[d]destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain. ²⁷ And as for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

²⁸ Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do his pleasure, and return to his own land. ²⁹ At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former. ³⁰ For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his pleasure: he shall even return, and have regard unto them that forsake the holy covenant. ³¹ And forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt-offering, and they shall set up the abomination that maketh desolate. ³² And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he ^[e]pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. ³³ And ^[f]they that are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days. ³⁴ Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves unto them with flatteries. ³⁵ And some of ^[g]them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.

³⁶ And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. ³⁷ Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. ³⁸ But in his ^[h]place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things. ³⁹ And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: ^[i]whosoever acknowledgeth him ^[j]he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.