^8:23Toward the end of their rule, when rebellious acts⁵¹ are complete, a rash⁵² and deceitful⁵³ king will arise.⁵⁴^8:24His power will be great, but it will not be by his strength alone. He will cause terrible destruction.⁵⁵ He will be successful in what he undertakes.⁵⁶ He will destroy powerful people and the people of the holy ones.⁵⁷^8:25By his treachery⁵⁸ he will succeed through deceit.⁵⁹ He will have an arrogant attitude,⁶⁰ and he will destroy many who are unaware of his schemes.⁶¹ He will rise up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken apart—but not by human agency.⁶²

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Footnotes

51 The present translation reads הַפְּשָׁעִים (happésha’im, “rebellious acts”) for the הַפֹּשְׁעִים (happoshé’im, “rebels”). While the is understandable (cf. , “when rebels have become completely wicked”), the filling up of transgressions is a familiar OT expression (cf. Gen 15:16) and fits this context well. Cf. the , Theodotion, the , and the .
52 Heb “strong of face.”
53 Heb “understanding riddles.” Possible meanings include “double-dealing” ( 295 חִידָה; cf. , ) and “with a good knowledge of intrigue” ( חִידָה; cf. , , , , ).
54 Heb “stand” or “stand up.”
55 Heb “extraordinarily he will destroy.”
56 Heb “he will succeed and act.”
57 See the corresponding Aramaic expression in 7:27. If the “holy ones” are angels, then this probably refers to the angels as protectors of God’s people. One could translate, “people belonging to (i.e., protected by) the holy ones.” If the “holy ones” are God’s people, then this is an appositional construction, “the people who are the holy ones.” One could translate simply “holy people.” For examples of a plural appositional genitive after “people,” see 11:15, 32. Because either interpretation is possible, the translation has deliberately preserved the ambiguity of the Hebrew grammar here.
58 The Hebrew term has a primary meaning of “skill, insight,” but here it has the connotation “cunning, treachery.” See 968 שֵׂכֶל, שֶׂכֶל.
59 Heb “he will cause deceit to succeed by his hand.”
60 Heb “in his heart he will act arrogantly.”
61 Heb “in peace.” The Hebrew word used here is difficult. It may refer to the security felt by those who did not realize the danger of imminent attack, or it may refer to the condition of being unaware of the impending danger. The latter idea is reflected in the present translation. See further, 1017 שַׁלְוָה.
62 Heb “with nothingness of hand.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Near the end of their kingdoms,

when the rebels have reached

the full measure of their sin,

a ruthless king, skilled in intrigue,

will come to the throne.

His power will be great,

but it will not be his own.

He will cause outrageous destruction

and succeed in whatever he does.

He will destroy the powerful

along with the holy people.

He will cause deceit to prosper

through his cunning and by his influence,

and in his own mind he will exalt himself.

He will destroy many in a time of peace;

he will even stand against the Prince of princes.

Yet he will be broken—not by human hands.

NLTNew Living Translation

“At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And at the end of their kingdom, when the transgressions are completed, a king will arise, fierce in countenance and skilled in riddles. And his power will grow, but not by his own power, and he will cause fearful destruction, and he will succeed and he will act, and he will destroy the mighty and the people of the holy ones. And by his planning he will make a success of deceit by his hand, and in his mind he will boast, and in their ease he will destroy many, and even against the prince of princes he will rise up, and he will be broken, but not by human hands.

KJV 1900King James Version

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

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