Kings of the South and the North

⁵ “The king of the South^(A) will grow powerful, but one of his commanders will grow more powerful and will rule a kingdom greater than his. ⁶ After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North^(B) to seal the agreement. She will not retain power, and his strength will not endure. She will be given up, together with her entourage, her father,^[a] and the one who supported her during those times. ⁷ In the place of the king of the South, one from her family^[b] will rise up, come against the army, and enter the fortress of the king of the North. He will take action against them and triumph. ⁸ He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious articles of silver and gold.^(C) For some years he will stay away from the king of the North, ⁹ who will enter the kingdom of the king of the South and then return to his own land.

¹⁰ “His sons will mobilize for war and assemble a large number of armed forces. They will advance, sweeping through like a flood,^[c](D) and will again wage war as far as his fortress. ¹¹ Infuriated, the king of the South will march out to fight with the king of the North who will raise a large army but they will be handed over to his enemy. ¹² When the army is carried off, he will become arrogant and cause tens of thousands to fall, but he will not triumph. ¹³ The king of the North will again raise a multitude larger than the first. After some years^[d](E) he will advance with a great army and many supplies.

¹⁴ “In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will assert themselves to fulfill a vision, but they will fail. ¹⁵ Then the king of the North will come, build up an assault ramp,^(F) and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their select troops will not be able to resist. ¹⁶ The king of the North who comes against him will do whatever he wants,^(G) and no one can oppose him. He will establish himself in the beautiful land^[e](H) with total destruction in his hand. ¹⁷ He will resolve^(I) to come with the force of his whole kingdom and will reach an agreement with him.^[f] He will give him a daughter in marriage^[g] to destroy it,^[h] but she will not stand with him or support him. ¹⁸ Then he will turn his attention to the coasts and islands^[i](J) and capture many. But a commander will put an end to his taunting; instead, he will turn his taunts against him.^{(K) 19} He will turn his attention back to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble, fall,^(L) and be no more.^(M)