1. "In the first year of Darius the Mede’s rule, I took my stand to strengthen and protect him."
2. I will now tell you the truth. Persia will have three more kings, but the fourth will be richer than all of them. Once he has become strong through his great riches, he will disturb everyone, including the Greek kingdom.
3. Then a warrior-king will come forward, ruling over a vast empire and doing whatever he wants.
4. But even as he takes control, his kingdom will be broken, divided to the four winds of heaven. It won’t pass to his descendants. No one will rule like he did because his kingdom will be uprooted. It will belong to others, not to these.
5. “Then the southern king will gain power, but one of his princes will overpower him, ruling in his place. His empire will be vast.
6. After some years, they will make an agreement together. The southern king’s daughter will go to the northern king to finalize the agreement, but she won’t retain her great power. Neither will his power remain in place. In those times she will be handed over, along with her escort, the one who fathered her, and the one who strengthened her.
7. “A branch from her roots will rise up in his place. Attacking the army, he will enter the walled fortress of the northern king. He will fight with them, and he will conquer.
8. He will even carry off their gods to Egypt, along with their statues and their silver and gold equipment. For years he will avoid the northern king.
9. Then the northern king will attack the kingdom of the southern king, but will return to his own land.
10. His sons will get ready for war, gathering massive forces. Their attack will be like an overwhelming flood. And they will attack again, taking the battle as far as his walled fortress.
11. “The southern king, in a bitter rage, will come out to battle the northern king. He will muster a huge army, but the army will be handed over to his enemy.
12. When the army is carried off, he will become confident. He will kill tens of thousands, but he will not stand strong.
13. The northern king will then muster another army—this one bigger than the first. After some years have passed, he will attack with a large and well-equipped army.