31 His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the regular sacrificer and set up the abomination of desolation.s 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.t 33 Those who have insight among the peopleu will give understanding to many, yet they will fall by the sword and flame,v and they will be captured and plundered for a time. 34 When they fall, they will be helped by some, but many others will join them insincerely.w 35 Some of those who have insight will fall so that they may be refined,x purified, and cleansedy until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

36 “Then the king will do whatever he wants.z He will exalt and magnify himself above every god,aa and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.ab He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed,ac because what has been decreed will be accomplished. 37 He will not show regard for the godsN of his ancestors, the god desired by women, or for any other god,ad because he will magnify himself above all. 38 Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his ancestors did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39 He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him,A making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward.

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 against hima with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries and sweep through them like a flood.b 41 He will also invade the beautiful land,c and many will fall. But these will escape from his power: Edom, Moab, and the prominent peopleB of the Ammonites.d 42 He will extend his power against the countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. 43 He will get control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt. The Libyans and Cushites will also be in submission.C,e 44 But reports from the eastf and the north will terrify him, and he will go out with great fury to annihilate and completely destroy many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the sea andD the beautiful holy mountain,g but he will meet his end with no one to help him.