2 Esdr 12:18 That after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great strivings, and it shall stand in peril of failing: nevertheless it shall not then fall, but shall be restored again to his beginning.

2 Esdr 12:19 And whereas thou sawest the eight small under feathers sticking to her wings, this is the interpretation:

2 Esdr 12:20 That in him there shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be but small, and their years swift.

2 Esdr 12:21 And two of them shall perish, the middle time approaching: four shall be kept until their end begin to approach: but two shall be kept unto the end.

2 Esdr 12:22 And whereas thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation:

2 Esdr 12:23 In his last days shall the most High raise up three kingdoms, and renew many things therein, and they shall have the dominion of the earth,

2 Esdr 12:24 And of those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all those that were before them: therefore are they called the heads of the eagle.

2 Esdr 12:25 For these are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that shall finish his last end.

2 Esdr 12:26 And whereas thou sawest that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain.

2 Esdr 12:27 For the two that remain shall be slain with the sword.

2 Esdr 12:28 For the sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself.

2 Esdr 12:29 And whereas thou sawest two feathers under the wings pa.s.sing over the head that is on the right side;

2 Esdr 12:30 It signifieth that these are they, whom the Highest hath kept unto their end: this is the small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou sawest.

2 Esdr 12:31 And the lion, whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to the eagle, and rebuking her for her unrighteousness with all the words which thou hast heard;

2 Esdr 12:32 This is the anointed, which the Highest hath kept for them and for their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and shall upbraid them with their cruelty.

2 Esdr 12:33 For he shall set them before him alive in judgment, and shall rebuke them, and correct them.

2 Esdr 12:34 For the rest of my people shall he deliver with mercy, those that have been pressed upon my borders, and he shall make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgment, whereof I have spoken unto thee from the the beginning.

2 Esdr 12:35 This is the dream that thou sawest, and these are the interpretations.

2 Esdr 12:36 Thou only hast been meet to know this secret of the Highest.

2 Esdr 12:37 Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and hide them:

2 Esdr 12:38 And teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou knowest may comprehend and keep these secrets.

2 Esdr 12:39 But wait thou here thyself yet seven days more, that it may be shewed thee, whatsoever it pleaseth the Highest to declare unto thee. And with that he went his way.

2 Esdr 12:40 And it came to pa.s.s, when all the people saw that the seven days were past, and I not come again into the city, they gathered them all together, from the least unto the greatest, and came unto me, and said,

2 Esdr 12:41 What have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsakest us, and sittest here in this place?

2 Esdr 12:42 For of all the prophets thou only art left us, as a cl.u.s.ter of the vintage, and as a candle in a dark place, and as a haven or ship preserved from the tempest.

2 Esdr 12:43 Are not the evils which are come to us sufficient?

2 Esdr 12:44 If thou shalt forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if we also had been burned in the midst of Sion?

2 Esdr 12:45 For we are not better than they that died there. And they wept with a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said,

2 Esdr 12:46 Be of good comfort, O Israel; and be not heavy, thou house of Jacob:

2 Esdr 12:47 For the Highest hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not forgotten you in temptation.

2 Esdr 12:48 As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come into this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion, and that I might seek mercy for the low estate of your sanctuary.

2 Esdr 12:49 And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you.

2 Esdr 12:50 So the people went their way into the city, like as I commanded them:

2 Esdr 12:51 But I remained still in the field seven days, as the angel commanded me; and did eat only in those days of the flowers of the field, and had my meat of the herbs

2 Esdr 13:1 And it came to pa.s.s after seven days, I dreamed a dream by night:

2 Esdr 13:2 And, lo, there arose a wind from the sea, that it moved all the waves thereof.

2 Esdr 13:3 And I beheld, and, lo, that man waxed strong with the thousands of heaven: and when he turned his countenance to look, all the things trembled that were seen under him.

2 Esdr 13:4 And whensoever the voice went out of his mouth, all they burned that heard his voice, like as the earth faileth when it feeleth the fire.

2 Esdr 13:5 And after this I beheld, and, lo, there was gathered together a mult.i.tude of men, out of number, from the four winds of the heaven, to subdue the man that came out of the sea

2 Esdr 13:6 But I beheld, and, lo, he had graved himself a great mountain, and flew up upon it.

2 Esdr 13:7 But I would have seen the region or place whereout the hill was graven, and I could not.

2 Esdr 13:8 And after this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.

2 Esdr 13:9 And, lo, as he saw the violence of the mult.i.tude that came, he neither lifted up his hand, nor held sword, nor any instrument of war:

2 Esdr 13:10 But only I saw that he sent out of his mouth as it had been a blast of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his tongue he cast out sparks and tempests.

2 Esdr 13:11 And they were all mixed together; the blast of fire, the flaming breath, and the great tempest; and fell with violence upon the mult.i.tude which was prepared to fight, and burned them up every one, so that upon a sudden of an innumerable mult.i.tude nothing was to be perceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this I was afraid.

2 Esdr 13:12 Afterward saw I the same man come down from the mountain, and call unto him another peaceable Mult.i.tude.

2 Esdr 13:13 And there came much people unto him, whereof some were glad, some were sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I awaked, and said,

2 Esdr 13:14 Thou hast shewed thy servant these wonders from the beginning, and hast counted me worthy that thou shouldest receive my prayer:

2 Esdr 13:15 Shew me now yet the interpretation of this dream.

2 Esdr 13:16 For as I conceive in mine understanding, woe unto them that shall be left in those days and much more woe unto them that are not left behind!