Also Iin the firstyearof Dariusthe Mede, even I, stoodto confirmand to strengthenhim. And nowwill I showthee the truth. Behold, there shall stand upyetthreekingsin Persia; and the fourthshall be far richerthan they all: and by his strengththrough his richeshe shall stir upallagainstthe realmof Greece. And a mightykingshall stand up, that shall rulewith greatdominion, and doaccording to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdomshall be broken, and shall be dividedtoward the fourwindsof heaven; and notto his posterity, noraccording to his dominionwhichhe ruled: forhis kingdomshall be plucked up, even for othersbesidethose. And the kingof the southshall be strong, and one ofhis princes; and he shall be strongabovehim, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a greatdominion. And in the endof yearsthey shall join themselves together; for the king's daughterof the southshall cometothe kingof the northto makean agreement: but she shall notretainthe powerof the arm; neithershall he stand, nor his arm: but sheshall be given up, and they that broughther, and he that begother, and he that strengthenedher in these times. But out of a branchof her rootsshall one stand upin his estate, which shall comewithan army, and shall enterinto the fortressof the kingof the north, and shall dealagainst them, and shall prevail: And shall alsocarrycaptivesinto Egypttheir gods, withtheir princes, and withtheir preciousvesselsof silverand of gold; and heshall continue more yearsthan the kingof the north. So the kingof the southshall comeinto his kingdom, and shall returnintohis own land. But his sonsshall be stirred up, and shall assemblea multitudeof greatforces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even tohis fortress. And the kingof the southshall be moved with anger, and shall come forthand fightwithhim, even withthe kingof the north: and he shall set fortha greatmultitude; but the multitudeshall be giveninto his hand. And when he hath taken awaythe multitude, his heartshall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall notbe strengthened by it . For the kingof the northshall return, and shall set fortha multitudegreaterthanthe former, and shall certainly comeaftercertainyearswith a greatarmyand with muchriches. And in thosetimesthere shall manystand upagainstthe kingof the south: also the robbersof thy peopleshall exalt themselvesto establishthe vision; but they shall fall. So the kingof the northshall come, and cast upa mount, and takethe most fencedcities: and the armsof the southshall notwithstand, neither his chosenpeople, neither shall there be any strengthto withstand. But he that comethagainsthim shall doaccording to his own will, and noneshall standbeforehim: and he shall standin the gloriousland, which by his handshall be consumed. He shall also sethis faceto enterwith the strengthof his wholekingdom, and upright oneswithhim; thus shall he do: and he shall givehim the daughterof women, corruptingher: but she shall notstand on his side , neitherbefor him. After this shall he turnhis faceunto the isles, and shall takemany: but a princefor his own behalf shall cause the reproachoffered by him to cease; withouthis own reproachhe shall cause it to turnupon him. Then he shall turnhis facetoward the fortof his own land: but he shall stumbleand fall, and notbe found. Then shall stand upinhis estatea raiserof taxes in the gloryof the kingdom: but within fewdayshe shall be destroyed, neitherin anger, norin battle. And inhis estateshall stand upa vile person, towhom they shall notgivethe honorof the kingdom: but he shall come inpeaceably, and obtainthe kingdomby flatteries. And with the armsof a floodshall they be overflownfrom beforehim, and shall be broken; yea, alsothe princeof the covenant. And afterthe league made withhim he shall workdeceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strongwith a smallpeople. He shall enterpeaceablyeven upon the fattest placesof the province; and he shall do that whichhis fathershave notdone, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatteramong them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea , and he shall forecasthis devicesagainstthe strongholds, even fora time. And he shall stir uphis powerand his courageagainstthe kingof the southwith a greatarmy; and the kingof the southshall be stirred upto battlewith a verygreatand mightyarmy; but he shall notstand: forthey shall forecastdevicesagainsthim. Yea, they that feedof the portion of his meatshall destroyhim, and his armyshall overflow: and manyshall fall downslain. And boththese kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speakliesatonetable; but it shall notprosper: foryetthe end shall be at the time appointed. Then shall he returninto his landwith greatriches; and his heart shall be againstthe holycovenant; and he shall do exploits , and returnto his own land. At the time appointedhe shall return, and cometoward the south; but it shall notbeas the former, or as the latter. For the shipsof Chittimshall comeagainst him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignationagainstthe holycovenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligencewiththem that forsakethe holycovenant. And armsshall standon his part, and they shall pollutethe sanctuaryof strength, and shall take awaythe daily sacrifice , and they shall placethe abominationthat maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly againstthe covenantshall he corruptby flatteries: but the peoplethat do knowtheir Godshall be strong, and do exploits . And they that understandamong the peopleshall instructmany: yet they shall fallby the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helpedwith a littlehelp: but manyshall cleavetothem with flatteries. And some ofthem of understandingshall fall, to trythem, and to purge, and to make them white, even tothe timeof the end: because it is yetfor a time appointed. And the kingshall doaccording to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himselfaboveeverygod, and shall speakmarvelous thingsagainstthe Godof gods, and shall prospertillthe indignationbe accomplished: forthat that is determinedshall be done. Neither shall he regardthe Godof his fathers, nor the desireof women, nor regard anygod: forhe shall magnify himselfaboveall. But inhis estateshall he honorthe Godof forces: and a godwhomhis fathersknewnotshall he honorwith gold, and silver, and with preciousstones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he doin the most strong holdswitha strangegod, whomhe shall acknowledge and increasewith glory: and he shall cause them to ruleover many, and shall dividethe landfor gain. And at the timeof the endshall the kingof the southpushathim: and the kingof the northshall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with manyships; and he shall enterinto the countries, and shall overflowand pass over. He shall enteralso into the gloriousland, and many countries shall be overthrown: but theseshall escapeout of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chiefof the childrenof Ammon. He shall stretch forthhis handalso upon the countries: and the landof Egyptshall notescape. But he shall have powerover the treasuresof goldand of silver, and over allthe precious thingsof Egypt: and the Libyansand the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidingsout of the eastand out of the northshall troublehim: therefore he shall go forthwith greatfuryto destroy, and utterly to make awaymany. And he shall plantthe tabernaclesof his palacebetweenthe seasin the gloriousholymountain; yet he shall cometohis end, and noneshall helphim.