19. Then he will turn his attention to the walled fortresses of his own country but will stumble, fall, and disappear.
20. “In his place one will arise who will send his agent to exact a kingdom’s glory, but in a few days he will be broken, though not by anger and not by war.
21. A worthless person will arise in his place. Royal majesty will not have been given to him, but he will come in a time of security and seize the kingdom by deceitful means.
22. Forces will be completely swept away and broken before him. The same is true for the leader of the covenant.
23. From the moment they make an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully. He will gain power at the expense of a small nation.
24. He will come into a province’s richest places untroubled and will do what his fathers and grandfathers never could. He will hand out plunder, spoil, and wealth to them. He will make plans against fortresses, but only for a time.
25. “Then with a large army he will gather his strength and courage against the southern king. The southern king, with a large and super powerful army, will prepare for war, but he won’t endure because they will make plans against him.
26. Those who eat the king’s provisions will destroy him. His army will be overrun. Many will die.
27. “These two kings, with their minds set on evil, will sit at one table, telling lies, but with no success because the end will come at the set time.