21 In his place, a despicable person without any royal lineage will come to power. He’ll come unexpectedly and will seize the northern (Syrian) kingdom by intrigue. 22 The overflowing forces will be swept away before him and broken, and also the prince of the agreement. 23 After an alliance is made with him, he’ll act deceitfully then he’ll go up and become powerful with a small number of people. 24 He’ll come into the richest parts of the province in a time of peace, and he’ll do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers did. He will distribute plunder, booty, and possessions among them. He’ll make plans against fortresses, but only for a time.

25 He’ll use his courage and power to raise a large army against the southern (Egyptian) king. The southern king will amass an exceedingly large, powerful army to respond in battle, but he won’t be able to make headway because plots will be devised against him. 26 Even those who sit at his table and eat his fine food will work against him. His army will be swept away with large numbers of casualties. 27 The two kings with their evil intentions, will sit at the same table but tell each other lies. However, it won’t suceed, because the end won’t come until the time appointed by God. 28 Then the northern king will return to his own country with valuable plunder, but his heart will be set against the holy agreement. He’ll take action, and then return to his own country.

29 At the appointed time the northern (Syrian) king will come back into the south, but he won’t be successful like he had been the previous time. 30 Ships will come against him from Kittum (Cyprus), and he’ll withdraw in fear. He’ll be angry about the holy agreement and will take action. He’ll come back and take the advice of those who forsake the holy agreement. 31 Some of his forces will attack and defile the sanctuary fortress. They’ll prevent the regular burnt offerings, and they’ll set up something revolting that causes people to be appalled.[ref] 32 Using flattery, he will corrupt others who oppose the agreement, But the people who know their God will be strong and will take action. 33 Those among the people and have insight will teach others, But they’ll be killed in battle or burnt during the attacks, or be plundered for several days or taken captive. 34 When they fall, they’ll receive a little help. Many will join themselves with them in hypocrisy. 35 Some of those who have insight will fall but the others will be refined, purified, and cleaned until the time of the end, because it’ll continue until the appointed time.

36 The northern (Syrian) king will do whatever he wants. He’ll boast and claim to be greater than any god, and he’ll say terrible things against the God of gods, . He’ll be successful until the indignation is accomplished, because everything will happen just as it’s already been determined.[ref] 37 He won’t pay any attention to his ancestors’ gods, or to the one desired by women, or for that matter, to any other god, because he’ll think he’s better than everyone and everything else. 38 Instead of those, he’ll honour the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors had never even heard of. He’ll honour that god with gold and silver, and with precious stones and treasures. 39 He’ll take action against the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He’ll increasingly honour those who acknowledge him and will make them influential leaders, and he’ll divide up the land for a price.

40 At the time of the end, the southern (Egyptian) king will attack the northern king, but that northern (Syrian) king will fight back agressively with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. He’ll invade several countries like how a flood overflows then passes through. 41 He will come into the beautiful land of Israel, killing many, but Edom, Moab, and the bulk of the Ammonites will escape from his power. 42 That northern king will invade other countries, and even Egypt won’t miss out. 43 He’ll accumulate the treasures of gold and of silver, and everything in Egypt that’s valuable, and then the Libyans and the Cushites will be in his footsteps. 44 But reports coming in from the east and the north will terrify him, and he’ll go out to fight furiously and kill many. 45 He’ll erect his royal tents between the seas and the beautiful holy mountain, but that northern king will come to his end, and no one will help him.