2 And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 3 Then ca mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and ddo according to his will. 4 And when he has arisen, ehis kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity fnor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.

Warring Kings of North and South

5 “Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion. 6 And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her 1authority, and neither he nor his 1authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times. 7 But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail. 8 And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their 2princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.

9 “Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land. 10 However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come gand overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return hto his fortress and stir up strife.

11 “And the king of the South shall be imoved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the jmultitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy. 12 When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be 3lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail. 13 For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.

14 “Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, 4violent men of your people shall exalt themselves 5in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall kfall. 15 So the king of the North shall come and lbuild a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the 6forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist. 16 But he who comes against him mshall do according to his own will, and nno one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his 7power.

17 “He shall also oset his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and 8upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, por be for him. 18 After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall qstumble and fall, rand not be found.

20 “There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle. 21 And in his place sshall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.