Conflicts to Come

11 “In the (A)first year of Darius the Mede, [a]I arose to be of [b]assistance and a protection for him. And now I will tell you the (B)truth. Behold, three more kings are going to arise [c]in Persia. Then a fourth will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as he becomes strong through his riches, [d]he will stir up the entire empire against the realm of [e](C)Greece. And a (D)mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and (E)do as he pleases. But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out (F)toward the (G)four [f]points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, because his sovereignty will be (H)removed and given to others besides [g]them.

“Then the (I)king of the South will grow strong, [h]along with one of his princes [i]who will gain ascendancy over him and rule; his domain will be a great realm indeed. And after some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will come to the (J)king of the North to reach an agreement. But she will not keep her [j]position of power, nor will he remain with his [k]power, but she will be given up, along with those who brought her in and the one who fathered her as well as he who supported her in those times. But one of the [l]descendants of her line will arise in his place, and he will come against their army and enter the (K)fortress of the king of the North, and he will deal with them and prevail. And he will also take into captivity to Egypt their (L)gods with their cast metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and he on his part will [m]refrain from attacking the king of the North for some years. Then [n]the latter will enter the realm of the king of the South, but will return to his own land.

10 “And his sons will mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one of them will keep on coming and (M)overflow and pass through, so that he may [o]again wage war up to his fortress. 11 And the (N)king of the South will be enraged and go out and fight [p]with the king of the North. Then the latter will raise a great multitude, but that multitude will be handed over to [q]the former. 12 When the multitude is carried away, his heart will [r]be haughty, and he will cause tens of thousands to fall; yet he will not prevail. 13 For the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former, and [s]after an (O)interval of some years he will [t]press on with a great army and much equipment.

14 “Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the South; the violent ones among your people will also raise themselves up to fulfill the vision, but they will [u]fall down. 15 Then the king of the North will come, pile up an (P)assault ramp, and capture a well-fortified city; and the forces of the South will not stand their ground, not even [v]their choicest troops, for there will be no strength to make a stand. 16 But he who comes against him will (Q)do as he pleases, and (R)no one will be able to withstand him; he will also stay for a time in the [w](S)Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. 17 And he will (T)set his [x]mind on coming with the power of his entire kingdom, [y]bringing with him [z]a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand for him or be [aa]on his side. 18 Then he will turn his face to the (U)coastlands and capture many. But a commander will put a stop to his taunting against him; moreover, he will (V)repay him for his taunting. 19 So he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will (W)stumble and fall and not be (X)found.

20 “Then in his place one will arise who will (Y)allow an [ab]oppressor to pass through the [ac]Jewel of his kingdom; yet within a few days he will be broken, though not in anger nor in battle. 21 And in his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the majesty of kingship has not been conferred; but he will come in a time of tranquility and (Z)seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 And the overflowing (AA)forces will be flooded away from him and smashed, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small force of people. 24 [ad]In a time of tranquility he will enter the (AB)richest parts of the [ae]realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers did not, nor his [af]ancestors; he will distribute plunder, spoils, and possessions among them, and he will devise his schemes against strongholds, but only for a time. 25 And he will stir up his strength and [ag]courage against the (AC)king of the South with a large army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, because schemes will be devised against him. 26 Those who eat his choice food will [ah]destroy him, and his army will [ai](AD)overflow, but many will fall down slain. 27 As for both kings, their hearts will be intent on (AE)evil, and they will (AF)speak lies to each other at the same table; but it will not succeed, because the (AG)end is still to come at the appointed time. 28 Then he will return to his land with much [aj]plunder; but his heart will be set against the holy covenant, and he will take action and then return to his own land.

29 “At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but [ak]this last time it will not turn out the way it did before. 30 For ships of [al](AH)Kittim will come against him; therefore he will withdraw in fear and will return and curse the holy covenant and take action; so he will come back and pay attention to those who abandon the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him will arise, (AI)desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the (AJ)abomination [am]of desolation. 32 And by (AK)smooth words he will [an]turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be (AL)strong and take action. 33 And [ao](AM)those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will (AN)fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. 34 Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will (AO)join with them in (AP)hypocrisy. 35 And some of [ap]those who have insight will fall, to (AQ)refine, (AR)purge, and [aq](AS)cleanse them until the (AT)end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.

36 “Then the king will (AU)do as he pleases, and he will exalt himself and (AV)boast against every god and will (AW)speak [ar]dreadful things against the (AX)God of gods; and he will be successful until the (AY)indignation is finished, because that which is (AZ)determined will be done. 37 And he will show no regard for the [as]gods of his fathers or for the [at]desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will boast against them all. 38 But [au]instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, precious stones, and treasures. 39 And he will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to [av]those who acknowledge him and will make them rulers over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.

40 “And at the (BA)end time the (BB)king of the South will wage war with him, and the (BC)king of the North will (BD)storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, (BE)overflow them, and pass through. 41 He will also enter the [aw](BF)Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, (BG)Moab, and the foremost of the sons of (BH)Ammon. 42 Then he will reach out with his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. 43 But he will [ax]gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and (BI)Libyans and (BJ)Ethiopians will follow at his [ay]heels. 44 But rumors from the East and from the North will terrify him, and he will go out with great wrath to eliminate and [az]annihilate many. 45 And he will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful (BK)Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:1 Lit my standing up was
  2. Daniel 11:1 Lit a strengthener
  3. Daniel 11:2 Lit for
  4. Daniel 11:2 Or they all will stir up the realm of Greece
  5. Daniel 11:2 Heb Javan
  6. Daniel 11:4 Lit winds of the heaven
  7. Daniel 11:4 I.e., his descendants
  8. Daniel 11:5 Lit and
  9. Daniel 11:5 Lit and he
  10. Daniel 11:6 Lit strength of arm
  11. Daniel 11:6 Lit arm
  12. Daniel 11:7 Lit branch of her roots
  13. Daniel 11:8 Lit stand from the king
  14. Daniel 11:9 Lit he will, and so throughout the ch
  15. Daniel 11:10 Or return and wage
  16. Daniel 11:11 Lit with him, with
  17. Daniel 11:11 Lit his hand
  18. Daniel 11:12 Lit rise
  19. Daniel 11:13 Lit at the end of the times, years
  20. Daniel 11:13 Or keep on coming
  21. Daniel 11:14 Lit stumble, and so throughout the ch
  22. Daniel 11:15 Lit the people of its choice ones
  23. Daniel 11:16 I.e., Israel
  24. Daniel 11:17 Lit face
  25. Daniel 11:17 Lit and
  26. Daniel 11:17 Lit equitable things
  27. Daniel 11:17 Lit for him; i.e., for her father
  28. Daniel 11:20 Or tax collector
  29. Daniel 11:20 Lit splendor; i.e., prob. Jerusalem and its temple
  30. Daniel 11:24 Lit In tranquility and the rich...he will enter
  31. Daniel 11:24 Lit province
  32. Daniel 11:24 Lit fathers’ fathers
  33. Daniel 11:25 Lit heart
  34. Daniel 11:26 Lit break
  35. Daniel 11:26 Or be swept away, and many
  36. Daniel 11:28 Lit property
  37. Daniel 11:29 Lit it will not happen as the first and as the last
  38. Daniel 11:30 I.e., Cyprus
  39. Daniel 11:31 Lit that makes desolate; or that causes horror
  40. Daniel 11:32 Or ruin those
  41. Daniel 11:33 Or instructors of the people will
  42. Daniel 11:35 Or the instructors
  43. Daniel 11:35 Or whiten
  44. Daniel 11:36 Or amazing
  45. Daniel 11:37 Or God
  46. Daniel 11:37 Or darling of
  47. Daniel 11:38 Lit in his place
  48. Daniel 11:39 Lit the one who acknowledges
  49. Daniel 11:41 I.e., Israel
  50. Daniel 11:43 Lit rule over
  51. Daniel 11:43 Lit footsteps
  52. Daniel 11:44 Lit devote many to destruction

11 And in the first year of Darius(A) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

“Now then, I tell you the truth:(B) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.(C) Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.(D) After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.(E) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted(F) and given to others.

“The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power[a] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father[b] and the one who supported her.

“One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North(G) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. He will also seize their gods,(H) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.(I) For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood(J) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

11 “Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.(K) 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

14 “In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps(L) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases;(M) no one will be able to stand against him.(N) He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.(O) 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans[c] will not succeed(P) or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands(Q) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.(R) 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,(S) to be seen no more.(T)

20 “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.(U) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible(V) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.(W) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away(X) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.(Y) 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,(Z) and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.(AA) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

25 “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,(AB) will sit at the same table and lie(AC) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.(AD) 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(AE) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.(AF) Then he will turn back and vent his fury(AG) 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.(AH) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.(AI) 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist(AJ) him.

33 “Those who are wise will instruct(AK) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.(AL) 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere(AM) will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,(AN) 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(AO) above every god and will say unheard-of things(AP) against the God of gods.(AQ) He will be successful until the time of wrath(AR) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.(AS) 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.[d]

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South(AT) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm(AU) 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.(AV) 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land.(AW) Many countries will fall, but Edom,(AX) Moab(AY) 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,(AZ) with the Libyans(BA) and Cushites[e] 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[f] the beautiful holy mountain.(BB) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 11:6 Or offspring
  2. Daniel 11:6 Or child (see Vulgate and Syriac)
  3. Daniel 11:17 Or but she
  4. Daniel 11:39 Or land for a reward
  5. Daniel 11:43 That is, people from the upper Nile region
  6. Daniel 11:45 Or the sea and