Daily Bread

²⁸ The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

²⁹ “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. ³⁰ Ships of the western coastlands^(A) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.^(B) Then he will turn back and vent his fury^(C) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

³¹ “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.^(D) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.^{(E) 32} With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist^(F) him.

³³ “Those who are wise will instruct^(G) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.^{(H) 34} When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere^(I) will join them. ³⁵ Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,^(J) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

³⁶ “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself^(K) above every god and will say unheard-of things^(L) against the God of gods.^(M) He will be successful until the time of wrath^(N) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.^{(O) 37} He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. ³⁸ Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. ³⁹ He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.^[a]

⁴⁰ “At the time of the end the king of the South^(P) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm^(Q) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.^{(R) 41} He will also invade the Beautiful Land.^(S) Many countries will fall, but Edom,^(T) Moab^(U) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. ⁴² He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. ⁴³ He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,^(V) with the Libyans^(W) and Cushites^[b] in submission. ⁴⁴ But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. ⁴⁵ He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at^[c] the beautiful holy mountain.^(X) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.