2 Esdr 13:17 For they that were not left were in heaviness.

2 Esdr 13:18 Now understand I the things that are laid up in the latter days, which shall happen unto them, and to those that are left behind.

2 Esdr 13:19 Therefore are they come into great perils and many necessities, like as these dreams declare.

2 Esdr 13:20 Yet is it easier for him that is in danger to come into these things, than to pa.s.s away as a cloud out of the world, and not to see the things that happen in the last days. And he answered unto me, and said,

2 Esdr 13:21 The interpretation of the vision shall I shew thee, and I will open unto thee the thing that thou hast required.

2 Esdr 13:22 Whereas thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, this is the interpretation:

2 Esdr 13:23 He that shall endure the peril in that time hath kept himself: they that be fallen into danger are such as have works, and faith toward the Almighty.

2 Esdr 13:24 Know this therefore, that they which be left behind are more blessed than they that be dead.

2 Esdr 13:25 This is the meaning of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man coming up from the midst of the sea:

2 Esdr 13:26 The same is he whom G.o.d the Highest hath kept a great season, which by his own self shall deliver his creature: and he shall order them that are left behind.

2 Esdr 13:27 And whereas thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came as a blast of wind, and fire, and storm;

2 Esdr 13:28 And that he held neither sword, nor any instrument of war, but that the rushing in of him destroyed the whole mult.i.tude that came to subdue him; this is the interpretation:

2 Esdr 13:29 Behold, the days come, when the most High will begin to deliver them that are upon the earth.

2 Esdr 13:30 And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the earth.

2 Esdr 13:31 And one shall undertake to fight against another, one city against another, one place against another, one people against another, and one realm against another.

2 Esdr 13:32 And the time shall be when these things shall come to pa.s.s, and the signs shall happen which I shewed thee before, and then shall my Son be declared, whom thou sawest as a man ascending.

2 Esdr 13:33 And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the battle they have one against another.

2 Esdr 13:34 And an innumerable mult.i.tude shall be gathered together, as thou sawest them, willing to come, and to overcome him by fighting.

2 Esdr 13:35 But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion.

2 Esdr 13:36 And Sion shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being prepared and builded, like as thou sawest the hill graven without hands.

2 Esdr 13:37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest;

2 Esdr 13:38 And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments wherewith they shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto a flame: and he shall destroy them without labour by the law which is like unto me.

2 Esdr 13:39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable mult.i.tude unto him;

2 Esdr 13:40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of a.s.syria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.

2 Esdr 13:41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the mult.i.tude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt,

2 Esdr 13:42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.

2 Esdr 13:43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.

2 Esdr 13:44 For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were pa.s.sed over.

2 Esdr 13:45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth.

2 Esdr 13:46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,

2 Esdr 13:47 The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore sawest thou the mult.i.tude with peace.

2 Esdr 13:48 But those that be left behind of thy people are they that are found within my borders.

2 Esdr 13:49 Now when he destroyeth the mult.i.tude of the nations that are gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain.

2 Esdr 13:50 And then shall he shew them great wonders.

2 Esdr 13:51 Then said I, O Lord that bearest rule, shew me this: Wherefore have I seen the man coming up from the midst of the sea?

2 Esdr 13:52 And he said unto me, Like as thou canst neither seek out nor know the things that are in the deep of the sea: even so can no man upon earth see my Son, or those that be with him, but in the day time.

2 Esdr 13:53 This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, and whereby thou only art here lightened.

2 Esdr 13:54 For thou hast forsaken thine own way, and applied thy diligence unto my law, and sought it.

2 Esdr 13:55 Thy life hast thou ordered in wisdom, and hast called understanding thy mother.

2 Esdr 13:56 And therefore have I shewed thee the treasures of the Highest: after other three days I will speak other things unto thee, and declare unto thee mighty and wondrous things.

2 Esdr 13:57 Then went I forth into the field, giving praise and thanks greatly unto the most High because of his wonders which he did in time;

2 Esdr 13:58 And because he governeth the same, and such things as fall in their seasons: and there I sat three days.

2 Esdr 14:1 And it came to pa.s.s upon the third day, I sat under an oak, and, behold, there came a voice out of a bush over against me, and said, Esdras, Esdras.

2 Esdr 14:2 And I said, Here am I, Lord And I stood up upon my feet.

2 Esdr 14:3 Then said he unto me, In the bush I did manifestly reveal myself unto Moses, and talked with him, when my people served in Egypt:

2 Esdr 14:4 And I sent him and led my people out of Egypt, and brought him up to the mount of where I held him by me a long season,

2 Esdr 14:5 And told him many wondrous things, and shewed him the secrets of the times, and the end; and commanded him, saying,

2 Esdr 14:6 These words shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hide.

2 Esdr 14:7 And now I say unto thee,

2 Esdr 14:8 That thou lay up in thy heart the signs that I have shewed, and the dreams that thou hast seen, and the interpretations which thou hast heard: