Daniel 11

Kings of the North and South

1 “In the first year of Darius the Mede, I was there to support and protect him.”

2 “Now, let me tell you the truth. Three more kings will rise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be richer than all of them. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.”

3 “Then a mighty king will arise who will rule with great power and do whatever he wants.”

4 “After his kingdom is established, it will be broken up and divided to the four winds of heaven, but not for his descendants or with the same power. It will be uprooted and given to others.”

5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great power.”

6 “After some years, they will make an alliance. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make peace, but she will not retain her power, and neither will he. She will be handed over, along with her escort and the one who supported her.”

7 “One from her family line will arise in her place, attack the forces of the king of the North, and enter his fortress; he will fight and win.”

8 “He will carry off their gods, their silver and gold, and for some years, he will leave the king of the North alone.”

9 “Then the king of the North will invade the kingdom of the South but will retreat to his own land.”

10 “His sons will prepare for war and assemble a massive army, which will advance, sweeping through like a flood, carrying the battle as far as the South.”

11 “Then the king of the South, full of rage, will march out to fight the king of the North, who will muster a huge army, but the army will be defeated.”

12 “When the army is carried off, the king of the South will feel invincible, but he will not stay strong for long.”

13 “For the king of the North will raise another army, bigger than the first, and after several years, he will come back with a huge force and fully equipped.”

14 “In those times, many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent men among your people will rebel in order to fulfill the vision, but they will fail.”

15 “Then the king of the North will come, build up siege ramps, and capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will not be able to stand.”

16 “The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and have the power to destroy it.”

17 “He will try to make an alliance with the king of the South by giving him his daughter in marriage, but it will not succeed.”

18 “Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his arrogance and turn it back on him.”

19 “After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country, but he will stumble and fall, never to be seen again.”

20 “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain royal splendor, but after a brief reign, he will be destroyed, not in anger or battle.”

21 “In his place will arise a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will come when things are quiet and seize the kingdom through intrigue.”

22 “Overwhelming forces will be swept away before him, and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.”

23 “After forming an alliance, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people, he will rise to power.”

24 “When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and achieve what neither his fathers nor ancestors did. He will distribute plunder, loot, and wealth among his followers.”

25 “He will stir up his strength and courage to fight the king of the South, who will raise a great army, but it will not stand because of plots against him.”

26 “Those who eat at the king’s table will destroy him, his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle.”

27 “The two kings, with hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but it will not succeed because the end will come at the appointed time."

28 “The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant.”

29 “At the appointed time, he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from the first.”

30 “Ships from the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back in rage against the holy covenant.”

31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.”

32 “With flattery, he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”

33 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned, captured, or plundered.”

34 "When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who join them will not be sincere."

35 "Some of the wise will stumble so they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time."

36 "The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt himself and make himself greater than any god, saying unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will succeed until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed will happen."

37 "He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but he will put himself above them all."

38 "Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses, a god unknown to his ancestors. With gold, silver, and expensive gifts, he will honor this god."

39 "He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many people and distributing land for a price."

40 "At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, cavalry, and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries, sweeping through them like a flood."

41 "He will invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab, and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand."

42 "He will extend his power over many countries, and Egypt will not escape."

43 "He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites 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 the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him."