Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Part 20

2 Esdr 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.

2 Esdr 11:15 Then came there a voice unto it, and said,

2 Esdr 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,

2 Esdr 11:17 There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto the half thereof.

2 Esdr 11:18 Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.

2 Esdr 11:19 So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then appeared no more.

2 Esdr 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:

2 Esdr 11:21 For some of them were set up, but ruled not.

2 Esdr 11:22 After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:

2 Esdr 11:23 And there was no more upon the eagle's body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.

2 Esdr 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.

2 Esdr 11:25 And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.

2 Esdr 11:26 And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.

2 Esdr 11:27 And the second was sooner away than the first.

2 Esdr 11:28 And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:

2 Esdr 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.

2 Esdr 11:30 And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.

2 Esdr 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.

2 Esdr 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.

2 Esdr 11:33 And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.

2 Esdr 11:34 But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.

2 Esdr 11:35 And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.

2 Esdr 11:36 Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest.

2 Esdr 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,

2 Esdr 11:38 Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee,

2 Esdr 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?

2 Esdr 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 compa.s.s of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.

2 Esdr 11:41 For the earth hast thou not judged with truth.

2 Esdr 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.

2 Esdr 11:43 Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty.

2 Esdr 11:44 The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.

2 Esdr 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:

2 Esdr 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.

2 Esdr 12:1 And it came to pa.s.s, whiles the lion spake these words unto the eagle, I saw,

2 Esdr 12:2 And, behold, the head that remained and the four wings appeared no more, and the two went unto it and set themselves up to reign, and their kingdom was small, and fill of uproar.

2 Esdr 12:3 And I saw, and, behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body of the eagle was burnt so that the earth was in great fear: then awaked I out of the trouble and trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit,

2 Esdr 12:4 Lo, this hast thou done unto me, in that thou searchest out the ways of the Highest.

2 Esdr 12:5 Lo, yet am I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit; and little strength is there in me, for the great fear wherewith I was afflicted this night.

2 Esdr 12:6 Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me unto the end.

2 Esdr 12:7 And I said, Lord that bearest rule, if I have found grace before thy sight, and if I am justified with thee before many others, and if my prayer indeed be come up before thy face;

2 Esdr 12:8 Comfort me then, and shew me thy servant the interpretation and plain difference of this fearful vision, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soul.

2 Esdr 12:9 For thou hast judged me worthy to shew me the last times.

2 Esdr 12:10 And he said unto me, This is the interpretation of the vision:

2 Esdr 12:11 The eagle, whom thou sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel.

2 Esdr 12:12 But it was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it unto thee.

2 Esdr 12:13 Behold, the days will come, that there shall rise up a kingdom upon earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms that were before it.

2 Esdr 12:14 In the same shall twelve kings reign, one after another:

2 Esdr 12:15 Whereof the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than any of the twelve.

2 Esdr 12:16 And this do the twelve wings signify, which thou sawest.

2 Esdr 12:17 As for the voice which thou heardest speak, and that thou sawest not to go out from the heads but from the midst of the body thereof, this is the interpretation: