29 “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. 30 For ships of ^jKittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the ^kregular burnt offering. And they shall set up the ^labomination that makes desolate. 32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who ^mknow their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 And the ⁿwise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be ^orefined, purified, and ^pmade white, until the ^qtime of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

36 “And the king shall ^rdo as he wills. ^sHe shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall ^tspeak astonishing things against the ^uGod of gods. He shall ^vprosper till the ^windignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. 37 He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.¹