II Esdras - Chapter 11

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.