2 Esdras

1On the second night I had a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.

2And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the heaven blew on her, and the clouds were gathered together about her.

3And I beheld, and out of her wings there grew other contrary wings; and they became little pudgy wings.

4But her heads were at rest: the head in the middle was greater than the other, yet rested it with the rest with them.

5Moreover I looked, and, behold, the eagle flew with her wings, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt in it.

6And I saw that all things under heaven were subject to her, and no man spoke against her, no, not even one creature that is on earth.

7And I looked, and, behold, the eagle rose upon her talons, and uttered a cry to her wings, saying,

8Do not all watch at the same time; let each sleep in her own place, and watch by the course of her turn:

9But let the heads be preserved for the last.

10And I looked, and behold, the voice did not come out from her heads, but from the middle of her body.

11And I numbered her opposing wings, and, behold, there were eight of them.

12And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth;

13And so it was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared no more: so the next wing following stood up, and reigned, and had a long reign.

14And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more.

15Then came there a voice to it, and said,

16Hear you that have borne rule over the earth so long: this I say to you, before you begin to appear no more,

17There shall none after you attain to your time, neither to the half thereof.

18Then arose the third wing, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.

19So went it with all the wing one after another, as that everyone reigned with power, and then appeared no more.

20Then I looked, and behold, in due process of time the wings that followed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also;

21And some of them ruled, but within a while they disappeared suddenly: and some of them rose up, but did not rule.

22After this I looked, and behold, the twelve wings appeared no more, nor the two little wings:

23And there was no more upon the eagle's body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.

24Then saw I also that two little wings divided themselves from the six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side; but the four continued in their place.

25And I looked, and behold, these two little wings planned to set themselves up and hold the rule.

26And I looked, and behold, there was one set up, but suddenly disappeared.

27And the second also, and this disappeared more quickly than the first.

28And I looked, and behold, the two that remained were planning between themselves to reign together:

29And when they were planning, behold, there awakened one of the heads that were at rest, namely, the one that was in the middle; for that was greater than the other two heads.

30And I saw how it allied the two heads with itself,

31And, behold, the head turned with two that were with it, and did eat up the two little wing which were planning to reign.

32Moreover this middle head gained control of the whole earth, and with much oppression dominated its inhabitants; and it had greater power over the world than all the wings that had gone before.

33And after this I looked, and behold, the middle head suddenly disappeared and was no more, just as the wings had done.

34But there remained the two heads, which also ruled over the earth and its inhabitants.

35And I looked, and behold, the head upon the right side devoured the one that was upon the left side.

36Then I head a voice, which said to me, Look before you, and consider what you see.

37And I looked, and behold, a creature like a lion was aroused out of the forest, roaring; and I heard how he uttered with a man's voice to the eagle, and spoke, saying,

38Hear you, I will speak with you what the Most High YAHWEH shall say to you,

39Are you not the one that remain of the four beasts, whom I made to reign in MY world, that the end of MY times might come through them?

40And you the fourth that has come, and has conquered all the beasts that have gone before, and had power over the world with great fearful terror, and over all the earth with much grievous oppression; and for so long as you have dwelt upon the earth with deceit.

41And you have judged the earth, but not with truth.

42For you have afflicted the meek, you have injured the peaceable, you have hated those who tell the truth, you have loved liars, and you have destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and have cast down the walls of them as did you no harm.

43Therefore is your insolent wrongful dealings has come up before the Most High YAHWEH, and your pride before the ALMIGHTY.

44And the Most High YAHWEH has also looked upon HIS times, and, behold, they are ended, and his ages are completed, and his abominations are fulfilled!

45Therefore you will surely disappear, you eagle, and your terrifying wings, and your most evil little wings, and your malicious heads, and your most evil talons, and your whole worthless body,

46So that the whole earth be freed from your violence, and may be refreshed and return, being delivered from your violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and mercy of HIM that made her.