The Second Book of Esdras

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

- Chapter 11 -

It came to pass the second night that I saw a dream, and behold, an eagle which had twelve feathered wings and three heads came up from the sea.

I saw, and behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of heaven blew on her, (a)and the clouds were gathered together against her.

I saw, and out of her wings there grew other wings near them; and they became little, tiny wings.

But her heads were at rest. The head in the middle was larger than the other heads, yet rested it with them.

Moreover I saw, and behold, the eagle flew with her wings to reign over the earth and over those who dwell therein.

I saw how all things under heaven were subject to her, and no one spoke against her—no, not one creature on earth.

I saw, and behold, the eagle rose on her talons, and uttered her voice to her wings, saying,

“Don’t all watch at the same time. Let each one sleep in his own place and watch in turn;

but let the heads be preserved for the last.”

I saw, and behold, the voice didn’t come out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.

I counted (b)her wings that were near the others, and behold, there were eight of them.

I saw, and behold, on the right side one wing arose and reigned over all the earth.

When it reigned, the end of it came, and it disappeared, so that its place appeared no more. The next wing rose up and reigned, and it ruled a long time.

It happened that when it reigned, its end came also, so that it disappeared, like the first.

Behold, a voice came to it, and said,

“Listen, you who have ruled over the earth all this time! I proclaim this to you, before you disappear,

none after you will rule as long as you, not even half as long.”

Then the third arose, and ruled as the others before, and it also disappeared.

So it went with all the wings one after another, as every one ruled, and then disappeared.

I saw, and behold, in process of time the (c)wings that followed were set up on the (d)right side, that they might rule also. Some of them ruled, but in a while they disappeared.

Some of them also were set up, but didn’t rule.

After this I saw, and behold, the twelve wings disappeared, along with two of the little wings.

There was no more left on the eagle’s body, except the three heads that rested, and six little wings.

I saw, and behold, two little wings divided themselves from the six and remained under the head that was on the right side; but four remained in their place.

I saw, and behold, these (e)under wings planned to set themselves up and to rule.

I saw, and behold, there was one set up, but in a while it disappeared.

A second also did so, and it disappeared faster than the first.

I saw, and behold, the two that remained also planned between themselves to reign.

While they thought about it, behold, one of the heads that were at rest awakened, the one that was in the middle, for that was greater than the two other heads.

I saw how it joined the two other heads with it.

Behold, the head turned with those who were with it, and ate the two (f)under wings that planned to reign.

But this head held the whole earth in possession, and ruled over those who dwell in it with much oppression. It had stronger governance over the world than all the wings that had gone before.

After this I saw, and behold, the head also that was in the middle suddenly disappeared, like the wings.

But the two heads remained, which also reigned the same way over the earth and over those who dwell in it.

I saw, and behold, the head on the right side devoured the one that was on the left side.

Then I heard a voice, which said to me, “Look in front of you, and consider the thing that you see.”

I saw, and behold, something like a lion roused out of the woods roaring. I heard how he sent out a man’s voice to the eagle, and spoke, saying,

“Listen and I will talk with you. The Most High will say to you,

‘Aren’t you the one that remains of the four animals whom I made to reign in my world, that the end of my times might come through them?

The fourth came and overcame all the animals that were past, and ruled the world with great trembling, and the whole extent of the earth with grievous oppression. He lived on the earth such a long time with deceit.

You have judged the earth, but not with truth.

For you have afflicted the meek, you have hurt the peaceful, you have hated those who speak truth, you have loved liars, destroyed the dwellings of those who produced fruit, and threw down the walls of those who did you no harm.

Your insolence has come up to the Most High, and your pride to the Mighty.

The Most High also has looked at his times, and behold, they are ended, and his ages are fulfilled.

Therefore appear no more, you eagle, nor your horrible wings, nor your evil little wings, nor your cruel heads, nor your hurtful talons, nor all your worthless body,

that all the earth may be refreshed and relieved, being delivered from your violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and mercy of him who made her.’”

Footnotes

(a)11:2 So the chief Oriental versions. The Latin has only and were gathered together.

(b)11:11 The Syriac has her little wings, and, etc.

(d)11:20 The Aethiopic has left.

(e)11:25 The Syriac has little wings.

(f)11:31 The Syriac has little wings.

Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.

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.

And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small.

But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the residue.

Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.

And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.

And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake to her feathers, saying,

Watch not all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch by course:

But let the heads be preserved for the last.

And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.

And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.

And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth;

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;

And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more.

Then came there a voice unto it, and said,

Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto thee, before thou beginnest to appear no more,

There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto the half thereof.

Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.

So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then appeared no more.

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:

For some of them were set up, but ruled not.

After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:

And there was no more upon the eagle’s body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.

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.

And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.

And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.

And the second was sooner away than the first.

And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:

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.

And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.

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.

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.

And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.

But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.

And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.

Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest.

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,

Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee,

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?

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.

For the earth hast thou not judged with truth.

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.

Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty.

The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.

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:

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.