15. Then the king of the north will come, build a siege-ramp and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the south will not prevail—not even their select troops will have strength to prevail.
16. But the invader will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to stand against him. He will take his stand in the beautiful land and its devastation in his hand.
17. His intention will be to come with the strength of his entire kingdom, but he will reach an agreement with him. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to destroy the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.
18. Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and capture many. But a commander will put an end to his insolence and pay him back for his insolence.
19. He will then turn his face toward the strongholds of his own land, but he will stumble and fall, not to be found again.
20. “In his place will arise one who will dispatch a tax collector to extract tribute for royal glory, but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or battle.
21. “Then in his place will arise a despicable person, on whom royal honor has not been conferred. He will come in a time of tranquility, and seize the kingdom through intrigue.
22. Armies will be utterly swept away from before him and will be broken, as well as the leader of the covenant.
23. After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; he will rise to power with a small force.
24. Without warning, he will invade the richest province and accomplish what his fathers or predecessors were unable to do. He will lavish on them plunder, loot and spoils. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, though only for a while.
25. “He will summon his strength and courage against the king of the south with a great army. The king of the south will wage war with a very large and mighty army, but he will not succeed because of plots devised against him.
26. Those who eat his delicacies will destroy him, and his army will be swept away; many will be slain in battle.