2Esdr 11:1 Then saw I a dream, and, behold,
there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and
three heads.
2Esdr 11:2 And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth,
and all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.
2Esdr 11:3 And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary
feathers; and they became little feathers and small.
2Esdr 11:4 But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater
than the other, yet rested it with the residue.
2Esdr 11:5 Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and
reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.
2Esdr 11:6 And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and
no man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.
2Esdr 11:7 And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake
to her feathers, saying,
2Esdr 11:8 Watch not all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and
watch by course:
2Esdr 11:9 But let the heads be preserved for the last.
2Esdr 11:10 And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but
from the midst of her body.
2Esdr 11:11 And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were
eight of them.
2Esdr 11:12 And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one
feather, and reigned over all the earth;
2Esdr 11:13 And so it was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the
place thereof appeared no more: so the next following stood up. and reigned,
and had a great time;
2Esdr 11:14 And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also,
like as the first, so that it appeared no more.
2Esdr 11:15 Then came there a voice unto it, and said,
2Esdr 11:16 Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I
say unto thee, before thou beginnest to appear no more,
2Esdr 11:17 There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto
the half thereof.
2Esdr 11:18 Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and
appeared no more also.
2Esdr 11:19 So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every
one reigned, and then appeared no more.
2Esdr 11:20 Then I beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that
followed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also; and some
of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more:
2Esdr 11:21 For some of them were set up, but ruled not.
2Esdr 11:22 After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared
no more, nor the two little feathers:
2Esdr 11:23 And there was no more upon the eagle's body, but three heads
that rested, and six little wings.
2Esdr 11:24 Then saw I also that two little feathers divided themselves from
the six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side: for the
four continued in their place.
2Esdr 11:25 And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing
thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.
2Esdr 11:26 And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it
appeared no more.
2Esdr 11:27 And the second was sooner away than the first.
2Esdr 11:28 And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in
themselves to reign:
2Esdr 11:29 And when they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads
that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater
than the two other heads.
2Esdr 11:30 And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.
2Esdr 11:31 And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it,
and did eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned.
2Esdr 11:32 But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it
over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much oppression; and it had
the governance of the world more than all the wings that had been.
2Esdr 11:33 And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst
suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.
2Esdr 11:34 But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled
upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.
2Esdr 11:35 And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it
that was upon the left side.
2Esdr 11:36 Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and
consider the thing that thou seest.
2Esdr 11:37 And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of
the wood: and I saw that he sent out a man's voice unto the eagle, and said,
2Esdr 11:38 Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto
thee,
2Esdr 11:39 Art not thou it that remainest of the four beasts, whom I made
to reign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them?
2Esdr 11:40 And the fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past,
and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole
compass of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he
upon the earth with deceit.
2Esdr 11:41 For the earth hast thou not judged with truth.
2Esdr 11:42 For thou hast afflicted the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable,
thou hast loved liars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought
forth fruit, and hast cast down the walls of such as did thee no harm.
2Esdr 11:43 Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and
thy pride unto the Mighty.
2Esdr 11:44 The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold,
they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.
2Esdr 11:45 And therefore appear no more, thou eagle, nor thy horrible
wings, nor thy wicked feathers nor thy malicious heads, nor thy hurtful
claws, nor all thy vain body:
2Esdr 11:46 That all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being
delivered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and
mercy of him that made her.