Vision of the kings of north and south

10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a a revelation came to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the word was true, and it means great distress. He gave heed to the words, and understood the vision:

2 ‘In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither did any meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were past. 4 In the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, 5 I looked up, and there was a man clothed in linen, with a belt of pure gold of Ophir; 6 his body also was like the chrysolith, and his face like lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling seized them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me, for my fresh appearance was changed to pallor. 9 Yet when I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep trance with my face toward the ground.

10 ‘Suddenly, a hand touched me, which set me trembling upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, greatly beloved, give heed to the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for to you have I now been sent.” When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to gain insight, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I left him there with the prince of the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will befall your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days. 15 When he had said these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground, and was dumb. 16 Then one who looked human touched my lips; then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him who stood before me, “My Lord, because of the vision my pangs have come upon me, and I retain no strength, 17 for how can this the servant of my Lord talk with my Lord? For as for me, henceforth there remains no strength in me, nor is there breath left in me.

18 ‘Then another in appearance like a person touched me, and strengthened me. 19 He said, “Greatly beloved, fear not; peace be to you; be strong, be bold.” When he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my Lord speak; for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia, and when I go forth, then the prince of Greece will come; 21 and none who help me against these, except Michael, your prince, stand as my helper and defence.

11 ‘“But now I will tell you what is written in the book of truth. 2 Three more kings will stand up for Persia; and the fourth will be far richer than them all; and when he has grown strong through his riches, he will stir up all against the realm of Greece. 3 Then a warrior king will stand up, who will rule with great dominion and do according to his will. 4 When he has become strong, his kingdom will be broken, and will be divided to the four winds of heaven, but it will not belong to his posterity, nor will it be as great as his dominion, which he ruled, for his kingdom will be overthrown and will belong to others besides these.

5 ‘“The king of the south will be strong, but one of his princes will be stronger than he, and will rule; his dominion will be great. 6 At the end of some years they will make an alliance with one another, and the daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement, but that support will not retain strength, neither will his supports stand; but she will be given up, and they who brought her, and her child, and he who supported her.

7 ‘“But in those times a shoot out of her roots will arise in his place, who will come to the army, and will enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and will act against them and prevail, 8 and also will carry away their gods, together with their molten images and their costly things of silver and gold, captive into Egypt; and he will refrain some years from the king of the north. 9 Then another will come into the realm of the king of the south, but he will return to his own land.

10 His son will war, and will assemble a multitude of great forces, and he will come onward, and overflow, and pass through, and will return and war, even to his fortress. 11 The king of the south will be enraged, and the will come forth and fight with him. even with the king of the north, and that one will raise a great multitude, but the multitude will be delivered into his hands. 12 The multitude will be carried away, and his heart will be exalted; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not show himself strong.

13 ‘“The king of the north will return, and will raise a multitude greater than the former; and he will come after a period of several years, with a great army and with much equipment. 14 In those times many will stand up against the king of the south, also the sons of the violent among your people will lift themselves up to establish the vision, but they will be overthrown.

15 ‘“So the king of the north will come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city; and the forces of the south will not stand, nor his chosen men, and there will be no strength to stand. 16 But he who will come against him, will do as he desires, and none will withstand him; and he will stand in the glorious land, and in his hand will be destruction. 17 He will set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, but he will make an agreement with him; and he will perform them; and he will give him the daughter of women, to ruin it; but it will not avail nor will he attain it. 18 After this he will turn his face to the coast-lands, and he will take many; but a consul will put an end to the insults offered by him; and will repay his insults sevenfold. 19 Then he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he will stumble and fall and will no longer be found.

20 ‘“Then one will stand up in his place who will cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be broken, but not in anger nor in battle. 21 In his place there will stand up a contemptible person upon whom they had not conferred the royal honor; but he will come unexpectedly, and will obtain the kingdom by intrigues. 22 Forces will be utterly overwhelmed before him and will be broken, and also a prince of the covenant. 23 After they make a league with him he will act deceitfully; for he will rise and become strong, with a small nation. 24 He will come unperceived, even into the fattest parts of a province; and he will do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers” fathers; he will scatter among them prey and spoil and riches, and he will devise plans against the strongholds, even for a time. 25 He will arouse his might and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south will make war with an exceedingly great army; but he will not stand, for they will devise plans against him. 26 Those who eat his dainties will ruin him, and his army will be swept away as a flood, and many will fall down slain. 27 As for these kings, their hearts will be bent on mischief, and they will speak lies at one table; but it will not prosper, for yet the end will be at the time appointed.

28 ‘“Then will he return to his land with great riches, and his heart will be against the holy covenant; and he will do his pleasure, and return to his own land. 29 At the time appointed he will return, and enter into the south; but it will not be in the latter time as in the former; 30 for ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be cowed, and will return, and vent his rage on the holy covenant, and will do his pleasure. He will return and fix his attention on those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces sent by him will prevail, and they will profane the sanctuary, the fortress, and will take away the daily offering and set up the appalling abomination. 32 He will pervert by specious promises, those who bring guilt upon the covenant; but the people who know their God will be valiant and do exploits.

33 ‘“They who are wise among the people will give understanding to many; yet they will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil many days. 34 Now when they are falling, they will be helped with a little help; but many will join themselves to them with false protestations. 35 Some of those who are wise will fall, in order to refine them and cleanse them and make them white, until the time of the end, for it is yet for the time appointed.

36 ‘“The king will do according to his will; and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until God’s wrath be exhausted; for that which is decreed will be done. 37 Neither will he regard the gods of his fathers; nor the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he will magnify himself above all. 38 But in his place will he honor a god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not will he honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly things. 39 He will procure for the strong fortresses the people of a foreign god. Whomsoever he regards with favor he will raise to great honor, and he will make them to rule over many, and he will divide the land for a price.

40 ‘“At the time of the end the king of the south will contend with him; and the king of the north will come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter into the countries, and he will overflow them and pass through. 41 He will enter also into the glorious land, and many thousands will fall; but these will be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the remnant of the Ammonites. 42 He will stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. 43 He will have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and Ethiopians will follow in his train. 44 But rumors out of the east and north will trouble him; and he will go forth with great fury to destroy and to utterly exterminate many. 45 He will plant his palace between the Mediterranean and the glorious holy mountain; so he will come to his end, and none will help him.

12 ‘“At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of my people; and there will be a time of affliction such as there never was since there was a nation, even to that time; and at that time your people will be delivered, every one who will be found written in the loyal book. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 They who are wise will shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 4 But thou, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, to the time of the end; many will run to and fro and knowledge will be increased.”

5 ‘Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on the other side. 6 One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these marvels?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, and he lifted up his right and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever: “It will be for a time, times, and a half; and when the power of the shatterer of the holy people will come to an end all these things will be finished.” 8 I heard but I understood not. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the end of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will cleanse themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but they who are wise will understand. 11 From the time that the daily sacrifice will be taken away, and the appalling abomination set up will be twelve hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand, three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But go your way to the end. You will take your rest and stand up to receive your lot at the end of the days.”’