23. And after they join themselves unto him, he worketh deceit, and hath increased, and hath been strong by a few of the nation.
24. Peaceably even into the fertile places of the province He cometh, and he hath done that which his fathers did not, nor his fathers' fathers; prey, and spoil, and substance, to them he scattereth, and against fenced places he deviseth his devices, even for a time.
25. `And he stirreth up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great force, and the king of the south stirreth himself up to battle with a very great and mighty force, and standeth not, for they devise devices against him,
26. and those eating his portion of food destroy him, and his force overfloweth, and fallen have many wounded.
27. `And both of the kings' hearts [are] to do evil, and at one table they speak lies, and it doth not prosper, for yet the end [is] at a time appointed.
28. And he turneth back [to] his land with great substance, and his heart [is] against the holy covenant, and he hath wrought, and turned back to his land.
29. At the appointed time he turneth back, and hath come against the south, and it is not as the former, and as the latter.
30. And ships of Chittim have come in against him, and he hath been pained, and hath turned back, and hath been insolent toward the holy covenant, and hath wrought, and turned back, and he understandeth concerning those forsaking the holy covenant.
31. And strong ones out of him stand up, and have polluted the sanctuary, the stronghold, and have turned aside the continual [sacrifice], and appointed the desolating abomination.
32. And those acting wickedly [against] the covenant, he defileth by flatteries; and the people knowing their God are strong, and have wrought.
33. And the teachers of the people give understanding to many; and they have stumbled by sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil--days.
34. And in their stumbling, they are helped--a little help, and joined to them have been many with flatteries.
35. And some of the teachers do stumble for refining by them, and for purifying, and for making white--till the end of the time, for [it is] yet for a time appointed.
36. `And the king hath done according to his will, and exalteth himself, and magnifieth himself against every god, and against the God of gods he speaketh wonderful things, and hath prospered till the indignation hath been completed, for that which is determined hath been done.
37. And unto the God of his fathers he doth not attend, nor to the desire of women, yea, to any god he doth not attend, for against all he magnifieth himself.