1 Assim como eu, no primeiro ano do reinado de Dario, o medo, mantive-me junto a ele para auxiliá-lo e protegê-lo."

2 "Agora vou manifestar-te a verdade. Haverá ainda três reis na Pérsia. O quarto ultrapassará todos os demais em riquezas. Quando suas riquezas o tiverem tornado poderoso, movimentará tudo contra o reino de Javã.

3 Mas um rei forte se levantará e dominará sobre um vasto império e fará tudo quanto lhe aprouver.

4 Quando ficar poderoso, seu reino será desmembrado e dividido aos quatro ventos do céu. Não passará à posteridade e não terá mais o mesmo poder; seu reino será desmem­brado e entregue a estranhos e não a seus descendentes.

5 O rei do Sul se tornará poderoso, mas um dos chefes do seu exército ficará ainda mais forte e seu império será grande.

6 Após alguns anos se aliarão: a filha do rei do Sul virá à casa do rei do Norte para fazer o acordo; mas ela não conservará o apoio de seu pai, cujo poder não se manterá, nem o do seu esposo. Ela será morta com aqueles que a tiverem trazido, aquele que a criou e aquele que a tinha feito poderosa.

7 Um dos rebentos da mesma raiz se levantará em seu lugar; virá em direção do exército, entrará nas fortalezas do rei do Norte, irá atacá-lo e sairá vencedor.

8 Levará para o Egito até mesmo seus deuses cativos, assim como seus ídolos e seus objetos preciosos de ouro e de prata. Depois, durante alguns anos, se absterá de atacar o rei do Norte.

9 Este virá contra o rei do Sul, mas voltará para a sua terra.

10 Mas seus filhos prepararão a guerra recrutando um exército numeroso, o qual, precipitando-se como uma torrente, invadirá e levará a batalha até a sua for­taleza.

11 Irritado, o rei do Sul sairá pa­ra atacar o rei do Norte: como porá em campo um numeroso exército, as tropas inimigas lhe serão entregues.

12 Após o aniquilamento desse exército, se encherá de orgulho. Mandará matar dezenas de milhares de homens, sem ficar mais forte por isso.

13 O rei do Norte organizará novamente um exército mais numeroso ainda que o primeiro, e alguns anos depois avançará em meio a enormes tropas e a um grandioso aparato.

14 Nesse momento, muitos se levantarão contra o rei do Sul; homens violentos de teu povo se revoltarão para cumprir a visão, mas fracassarão.

15 O rei do Norte virá, então, destruirá trincheiras e tomará fortalezas. Os exércitos do rei do Sul, mesmo as suas tropas de elite, não se manterão; nada poderá resistir.

16 O invasor agirá à sua vontade sem que ninguém possa enfrentá-lo e se deterá no país que é a joia da terra; e a destruição estará em suas mãos.

17 Empreenderá a conquista do reino do Sul; fará um pacto com seu rei e lhe dará sua filha como mulher, a fim de amenizar a ruína dessa terra; mas isso não dará resultado, e esse reino não lhe pertencerá.

18 Depois se voltará contra as ilhas e tomará diversas. Porém, um chefe militar porá fim à sua soberba, e o fará pagar sua injúria.

19 Então, ele se voltará contra as fortalezas de sua terra, mas tropeçará, cairá e acabará desaparecendo.

20 "No lugar deste último será colocado um príncipe, que enviará um fiscal ao país que é a joia da terra. Em poucos dias ele será aniquilado, e não será nem por efeito de cólera nem de batalha."

21 "Em seu lugar, um homem vil se elevará, sem nenhuma dignidade real, surgirá repentinamente e se apossará da realeza pelas suas intrigas.

22 As tropas de invasão serão postas em fuga diante dele e aniquiladas, bem como o chefe da aliança.

23 A despeito do pacto firmado com ele, agirá com perfídia: atacará e triun­fará com poucos homens.

24 Invadirá inesperadamente as regiões mais férteis da terra; fará o que nunca fizeram seus pais nem os antepassados deles: distribuirá com os seus os saques, despojos, riquezas; combinará ofensivas contra as fortalezas, mas apenas por um tempo.

25 Dará novo impulso a suas forças e a seu valor, atacando o rei do Sul com um exército considerável. Por seu lado, o rei do Sul entrará na luta com um exército importante e valoroso, mas não poderá resistir, devido às intrigas urdidas contra ele.

26 Seus comensais o aniquilarão; seu exército se dispersará e muitos homens cairão feridos mortalmente.

27 Com o coração repleto de desejos malévolos, os dois reis se enganarão mutuamente à volta da mesma mesa. Mas seus projetos fracassarão, porque o fim só virá no tempo determinado.

28 Volverá à sua terra com grandes riquezas. Seu coração meditará o mal contra a santa aliança; o cometerá, depois entrará novamente em sua terra."

29 "No tempo previsto atacará de novo o Sul: mas esta expedição não será seme­lhante à precedente.

30 Navios de Cetim o atacarão e ele desanimará. Dirigirá novamente sua fúria contra a santa aliança, tomará medidas contra ela, fazendo um pacto com aqueles que a abandonarem.

31 Tropas sob sua ordem virão profanar o santuário, a fortaleza; farão cessar o holocausto perpétuo e instalarão a abominação do devastador.

32 Submeterá, com suas lisonjas, os violadores da aliança, mas a multidão daqueles que conhecem seu Deus se manterá firme e resistirá.

33 Os homens doutos desse povo instruirão um grande número; mas, durante algum tempo, perecerão pela espada, fogo, cativeiro e pilhagem.

34 Enquanto forem caindo dessa maneira, serão um tanto amparados; e um bom número se unirá hipocritamente a eles.

35 Muitos desses sábios sucumbirão, a fim de que sejam provados, purificados e branqueados até o termo final; ora, esse final só chegará no tempo marcado.

36 O rei fará então tudo o que desejar. Ele se ensoberbecerá, se elevará no seu orgulho acima de qualquer divindade; proferirá até coisas inauditas contra o Deus dos deuses; prosperará até que a cólera divina tenha chegado ao seu termo, porque o que está decretado deverá ser executado.

37 Não respeitará nem os deuses de seus antepassados, nem a deusa querida das mulheres, nem divindade alguma; ele se julgará superior a todos.

38 Mas venerará o deus das fortalezas, no próprio local, um deus desconhecido de seus antepassados, com ouro, prata, pedras preciosas e joias.

39 Com o auxílio de um deus estranho, atacará as muralhas das fortalezas; aos que o reconhecerem, multiplicará as honras, ele lhes conferirá autoridade sobre numerosos vassalos e lhes distribuirá terras em recompensa.

40 No final, o rei do Sul e ele entrarão em luta. O rei do Norte cairá sobre ele, como um furacão, com carros, cavaleiros e uma frota considerável. Entrará na terra como uma torrente que transborda.

41 Invadirá o país que é a joia da terra, onde muitos homens cairão. Mas os edomitas, os moabitas e a maioria dos amonitas lhe escaparão.

42 Ele se apoderará de diferentes países; o Egito não lhe escapará.

43 Pilhará os tesouros de ouro e de prata bem como tudo o que houver de precioso no Egito. Os líbios e os etíopes se juntarão a ele.

44 Mas, alarmado pelas notícias vindas do Oriente e do Norte, se retirará como uma fúria, para destruir e exterminar uma multidão de povos.

45 Erguerá os pavilhões de seu palácio entre o mar e a nobre montanha do santuário. Então, alcançará o termo de sua vida e ninguém lhe prestará socorro."

1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. 2 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. 6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.*11.6 join…: Heb. associate themselves*11.6 an…: Heb. rights*11.6 he that begat…: or, whom she brought forth 7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:*11.7 in…: or, in his place, or, office 8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.*11.8 their precious…: Heb. vessels of their desire 9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. 10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.*11.10 shall be…: or, shall war*11.10 return…: or, be stirred up again 11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. 12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it. 13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.*11.13 after…: Heb. at the end of times, even years 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.*11.14 the robbers: Heb. the children of robbers 15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.*11.15 the most…: Heb. the city of munitions*11.15 his…: Heb. the people of his choices 16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.*11.16 glorious…: or, goodly, etc.: Heb. land of ornament 17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.*11.17 upright…: or, much uprightness: or, equal conditions*11.17 corrupting: Heb. to corrupt 18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.*11.18 for…: Heb. for him*11.18 the reproach…: Heb. his reproach 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. 20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.*11.20 estate: or, place*11.20 a…: Heb. one that causeth an exacter to pass over*11.20 anger: Heb. angers

21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.*11.21 estate: or, place 22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.*11.24 peaceably…: or, into the peaceable and fat, etc*11.24 forecast…: Heb. think his thoughts 25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. 26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. 27 And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.*11.27 hearts: Heb. their hearts 28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.

30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.*11.31 maketh…: or, astonisheth 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.*11.32 corrupt: or, cause to dissemble 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.*11.35 try them: or, try by them 36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.*11.38 in…: or, as for the Almighty God, in his seat he shall honour yea, he shall honour a god, whom, etc*11.38 estate: or, stead*11.38 forces: or, munitions: Heb. Mauzzim, or, God’s protectors*11.38 pleasant: Heb. things desired 39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.*11.39 most…: Heb. fortresses of munitions*11.39 gain: Heb. a price 40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.*11.41 glorious…: or, goodly, etc.: Heb. land of delight, or, ornament 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.*11.42 stretch…: Heb. send forth 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.*11.45 glorious…: or, goodly, etc.: Heb. mountain of delight of holiness