1And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)
The Kings of the South and the North
2“Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. 3Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. 4After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
5“The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. 6After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power11:6 Or offspring will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father11:6 Or child (see Vulgate and Syriac) and the one who supported her.
7“One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.
11“Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. 12When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.
14“In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. 15Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it. 17He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans11:17 Or but she will not succeed or help him. 18Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him. 19After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.
20“His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.
21“He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. 23After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.
25“With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. 28The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
29“At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
31“His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
33“Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
The King Who Exalts Himself
36“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.11:39 Or land for a reward
40“At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites11:43 That is, people from the upper Nile region in submission. 44But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at11:45 Or the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
1Ndipo chaka choyamba cha Dariyo Mmedi ine Mikayeli ndinabwera kumuthandiza ndi kumuteteza Gabrieli.
Mafumu a Kummwera ndi Kumpoto
2“Ndipo tsopano ndikuwuza zoona: Mafumu ena atatu adzalamulira ku Peresiya, ndipo kenaka padzadzuka mfumu yachinayi imene idzakhala yolemera kwambiri kuposa onsewo. Popeza kuti idzakhala ndi mphamvu chifukwa cha chuma chake, idzadzutsa onse kuti alimbane ndi ufumu wa Grisi. 3Kenaka mfumu yamphamvu idzafika imene idzalamulira ndi ufumu waukulu ndi kuchita zimene ifuna. 4Koma ufumu wake ukadzafika pachimake, udzawonongedwa ndi kugawidwa mʼzigawo zinayi. Ufumuwo sudzaperekedwa kwa zidzukulu zake, ndipo olowa mʼmalo mwake sadzakhala ndi mphamvu monga anali nazo, chifukwa ufumu wake udzazulidwa ndi kuperekedwa kwa ena.
5“Mfumu ya kummwera idzakhala yamphamvu, koma mmodzi mwa akalonga ake adzakhala ndi mphamvu kuposa iyo; adzalamulira ufumu wake waukulu kwambiri. 6Patapita zaka zingapo, mfumu ya kummwera ndi mfumu ya kumpoto adzachita pangano. Mwana wamkazi wa mfumu ya kummwera adzapita nakakwatiwa ndi mfumu ya kumpoto pokhazikitsa pangano la mtendere, koma ulamuliro wake pamodzi ndi wa mwana wake sudzakhalitsa. Mʼmasiku amenewo iye, mwamuna wake, mwana wake ndi atumiki ake, onse adzaperekedwa kwa adani.
7“Mmodzi wochokera ku banja la mkaziyo adzadzuka nadzalamulira mʼmalo mwake. Iye adzamenyana ndi ankhondo a mfumu ya kumpoto ndi kulowa mʼmalo ake otetezedwa; adzachita nawo nkhondo ndi kupambana. 8Iye adzalandanso milungu yawo, mafano awo achitsulo, ndi ziwiya zawo zamtengowapatali zasiliva ndi golide ndi kubwerera nazo ku Igupto. Adzaleka osayithira nkhondo mfumu ya kumpoto kwa zaka zingapo. 9Kenaka mfumu ya kumpoto idzathira nkhondo dziko la mfumu ya kummwera koma idzalephera ndi kubwerera kwawo. 10Ana ake adzakonzekera nkhondo ndi kusonkhanitsa gulu lankhondo lalikulu, limene lidzathira nkhondo mfumu yakummwera ngati chigumula mpaka kumalo ake otetezedwa.
11“Kenaka mfumu yakummwera idzatuluka mokwiya ndi kumenya nkhondo ndi mfumu yakumpoto, imene idzasonkhanitsa gulu lalikulu la nkhondo, koma idzayigonjetsa. 12Gulu la nkhondoli likadzagwidwa, mfumu yakummwera idzayamba kudzikuza ndipo idzapha anthu miyandamiyanda, koma kupambanaku sikudzapitirira. 13Popeza mfumu ya kumpoto idzasonkhanitsa gulu lina lankhondo, lochulukirapo kuposa loyamba; ndipo patapita zaka zingapo idzabwera ndi chigulu chachikulu cha nkhondo chokonzekeratu ndi zida.
14“Nthawi imeneyo ambiri adzawukira mfumu ya kummwera. Anthu achisokonezo pakati panu nawonso adzawukira pokwaniritsa masomphenya, koma sadzapambana. 15Kenaka mfumu ya kumpoto idzafika ndikuzinga mzinda powunda nthumbira za nkhondo ndipo idzagonjetsa mzinda wotetezedwa. Gulu lankhondo la kummwera lidzasowa mphamvu; ngakhale akatswiri awo ankhondo sadzakhala ndi mphamvu zogonjetsera ankhondo a kumpoto. 16Mfumu ya kumpoto idzachita zofuna zake; palibe aliyense adzayigonjetse. Idzakhazikitsa ulamuliro wake mu Dziko Lokongola. Zonse zidzakhala mu ulamuliro wa mfumu yakumpoto ija. 17Idzafika ndi mphamvu za ufumu wake wonse ndipo idzayesa kuchita pangano la mtendere ndi mfumu ya kummwera. Ndipo idzamupatsa mwana wake wamkazi kuti amukwatire ndi cholinga cholanda ufumu, koma zolinga zake sizidzatheka kapena kumuthandiza. 18Kenaka idzatembenukira ku mayiko a mʼmbali mwa nyanja ndi kulanda mizinda yambiri, koma mtsogoleri wina wa nkhondo adzathetsa kudzikuza kwakeko ndipo adzabwezera chipongwecho kwa iye. 19Zikadzatha izi, mfumu idzabwerera ku malo otetezedwa a dziko la kwawo koma idzapunthwa ndi kugwa osapezekanso.
20“Mfumu imene idzatenga malo ake idzatumiza wokhometsa msonkho kuti chuma cha ufumu wake chichuluke. Komabe mʼzaka zochepa mfumuyo idzawonongedwa osati mu mkwiyo kapena ku nkhondo.
21“Mʼmalo mwake mudzalowa munthu wonyozeka amene si wa banja laufumu. Iye adzabwera pamene anthu akuganiza kuti ali pa mtendere, ndipo adzalanda ufumuwo mwa chinyengo. 22Kenaka adzagonetsa gulu lalikulu lankhondo kuphatikizapo Mkulu wa Ansembe wapangano. 23Atatha kuchita naye pangano, iye adzachita monyenga, ndipo ngakhale adzakhale ndi anthu ochepa adzakhalabe ndi mphamvu. 24Mwadzidzidzi, iye adzazithira nkhondo zigawo zolemera kwambiri ndipo adzachita zimene makolo ake ngakhale agogo ake sanachitepo. Iye adzagawira zolanda, zofunkha ndi chuma kwa omutsatira. Adzachita chiwembu cholanda mizinda yotetezedwa koma kwa kanthawi kochepa.
25“Mfumu ya kumpoto idzalimba mtima, ndipo idzasonkhanitsa gulu lalikulu la ankhondo kuti lithire nkhondo mfumu yakummwera. Mfumu yakummwera ndi gulu lake lankhondo lalikulu ndi lamphamvu idzathirana nkhondo ndi mfumu yakumpoto koma sidzapambana chifukwa cha ziwembu zimene adzamukonzera. 26Amene amadya chakudya ndi mfumu adzamuukira; gulu lake lankhondo lidzagonjetsedwa, ndipo ambiri adzafera ku nkhondo. 27Mafumu awiriwa mitima yawo idzalinga ku zoyipa. Azidzanamizana ali pa tebulo limodzi, koma zolinga zawo sizidzatheka chifukwa nthawi idzakhala isanakwane. 28Mfumu ya kumpoto idzabwerera ku dziko la kwawo ndi chuma chambiri, koma mtima wake udzafunitsitsa pangano lopatulika. Idzawononga panganolo ndipo kenaka idzabwerera ku dziko lake.
29“Patapita nthawi mfumu ya kumpoto idzabwereranso kummwera koma sidzapambana monga inachitira kale. 30Sitima zapamadzi zochokera ku mayiko a ku madzulo zidzalimbana naye, ndipo adzataya mtima. Kenaka idzabwerera mopsa mtima ndi kudzalimbana ndi chipembedzo cha anthu opatulika. Idzabwerera ndi kuchitira chifundo amene sadzasunga pangano loyera.
31“Ankhondo ake adzayipitsa linga la Nyumba ya Mulungu ndipo adzathetsa nsembe za tsiku ndi tsiku. Kenaka adzakhazikitsa chonyansa chimene chabweretsa chiwonongeko. 32Ndi mawu oshashalika mfumuyo idzakopa amene anaphwanya pangano, koma anthu amene amadziwa Mulungu wawo adzalimbika ndipo adzayikana mfumuyo kwathunthu.
33“Amene ndi anzeru adzalangiza ambiri. Koma patapita kanthawi adzaphedwa ndi lupanga kapena kutenthedwa, kapena kugwidwa kapena kulandidwa katundu. 34Pa nthawi yozunzikayi ena adzawathandiza pangʼono, koma ambiri othandizawo adzakhala achinyengo. 35Ena mwa anzeruwo adzaphedwa ndi cholinga chakuti ayengedwe, otsala mwa iwo ayeretsedwe ndi kukhala wopanda banga kufikira nthawi yomaliza, popeza idzafika ndithu nthawi imene Mulungu wayika.
Mfumu Yodzikweza
36“Mfumu ya kumpoto idzachita zimene ikufuna. Idzadzikweza ndi kudziyesa yopambana mulungu aliyense ndipo idzanenera za mwano Mulungu wa milungu. Iyo idzapambana mpaka nthawi yoti Mulungu ayilange mwa mkwiyo itakwana popeza chimene chatsimikizika chiyenera kuchitika. 37Mfumuyo idzanyoza milungu ya makolo ake ndiponso mulungu wokondedwa ndi akazi, sidzachitiranso ulemu mulungu aliyense, koma idzadzikweza yokha pamwamba pa onse. 38Mʼmalo mwa onsewo, idzachitira ulemu mulungu wachitetezo; mulungu wosadziwika ndi makolo ake. Iyo idzapereka kwa mulunguyo golide ndi siliva, ndi miyala yokongola, ndiponso mphatso za pamwamba kwambiri. 39Anthu opembedza mulungu wachilendo adzakhala ngati linga lake. Idzalemekeza iwowa kwambiri, ndipo idzawayika kuti alamulire anthu ambiri. Idzawagawira dziko ngati malipiro awo.
40“Pa nthawi yomaliza mfumu yakummwera idzachita nkhondo ndi mfumu yakumpoto. Koma mfumu yakumpotoyi idzayikantha ndi magaleta ndi akavalo ndi sitima zapamadzi zambiri ngati mphepo yamkokomo. Idzalowa mʼmayiko ambiri ndikuwakokolola onse ngati madzi osefukira. 41Idzalowanso mʼDziko Lokongola ndipo anthu ambiri adzaphedwa. Koma Edomu, Mowabu ndi olamulira a Amoni adzapulumuka. 42Idzathira nkhondo mayiko ambiri ndipo ngakhale Igupto sadzapulumuka. 43Idzalanda chuma cha golide, siliva, ndi zonse za mtengowapatali za ku Igupto, ndiponso anthu a ku Libiya ndi Akusi adzagonja kwa iwo. 44Koma uthenga wochokera kummawa ndi kumpoto udzayiopsa, ndipo idzapita ndi ukali kukawononga ndi kutheratu anthu ambiri. 45Mfumuyo idzayimika matenti ake aufumu, pakati pa nyanja ndi phiri lokongola. Komabe mapeto ake mfumuyo idzaphedwa, ndipo palibe amene adzayithandize.”
