2 Esdras 12

1And it happened, while the lion was speaking these words to the eagle,

2that I looked, and behold, the head that had remained did not appear. And the two wings that had gone over to it arose and were set up to reign, and their reign was brief and full of turmoil. And I looked, and behold, they too did not appear, and the whole body of the eagle was burning, and the earth was greatly terrified.

3Then I awoke from great bewilderment of mind and from great fear, and I said to my spirit, “See, you have brought these things upon me, because

4because you search out the ways of the Most High. Behold, I am still weary in my spirit, and

5and in my spirit I am very weak, and there is not even a little strength in me because of the great fear that terrified me this night.

6Therefore I will pray to the Most High, that he may strengthen me to the end.”

7And I said, “O Sovereign Lord, if I have found favor before your eyes, and if I have been justified before you more than many, and if my petition has surely gone up before your face, strengthen me and show yourself to me, your servant.”

8the interpretation and the distinction of this dreadful vision, so that you may fully comfort my soul. For you have counted me worthy

9to show me the end of the times and the last things of the times.” And he said to me, “This is the interpretation of this vision that

10And he said to me, “This is the interpretation of the vision that you saw: the eagle that you saw coming up from the sea—this is

11the fourth kingdom that was seen in a vision by Daniel your brother. But it was not interpreted to him as I now interpret it to you,

12or as I have interpreted it. Behold, days are coming, and a kingdom will arise,

13upon the earth, and it will be the terror of all the kingdoms that were before it.

14And twelve kings will reign in it, one after another.

15For the second who begins to reign will hold power longer

16This is the interpretation of the twelve wings that you saw.

17And because you heard a voice speaking, not from its heads but from the midst of its body,

18This is the interpretation: after the time of that kingdom, no small contentions will arise, and it will be in danger of falling; but it will not fall.

19but will again be restored to its beginning. And because

20“And because you saw eight little wings clinging to its wings, this is the interpretation: eight kings will arise in it,

21whose times will be brief and whose years swift. Two of them will perish when the middle time draws near, but four will be preserved for the time when its end begins to draw near,

22but two will be preserved until the end. And because you saw three heads

23And because you saw three heads at rest, this is the interpretation: in its last days the Most High will raise up three kingdoms and renew many things in it, and they will rule.

24the earth and those who dwell in it, with much oppression, more than all who were before them; therefore they are called the heads

25of the eagle. For these are the ones who will bring its impieties to a head, and

26and complete its final acts. And because you saw the larger head disappearing, it means that one of them will die on his bed, yet with torments. For the two who survived,

27the sword will devour them. For one sword will devour him who is with it,

28but this one also will fall by the sword in the last days. And because you saw

29the two little wings crossing over to the head that is on the right side—this is the interpretation: these are the ones whom the Most High has preserved in

30“And because you saw two little wings passing over to the head on the right side, this is the interpretation: these are the ones whom the Most High has preserved for its end. This was a brief kingdom and full of turmoil,”

31as you saw. And the lion that you saw rousing itself from the forest, roaring and speaking to the eagle and reproving it for its injustices and all its words, as you heard—

32This is the Anointed One, whom the Most High has reserved for the end against them and their impieties. He will rebuke them for their injustices and will set their contempt before them.

33And it will be, when he has reproved them, then he will destroy them. For the remnant

34he will deliver my people with mercy, those who have been preserved within my borders, and he will make them rejoice until the end comes, the day of judgment, of which I spoke to you from the beginning. This is the dream,

35What you saw, and this is its interpretation:

36“But you alone were worthy to know this secret of the Most High.

37Therefore write all these things in a book,

38And you shall teach them to the wise among your people, whose hearts you know are able to comprehend and keep them secret.

39But you, remain here still for seven more days, so that whatever it may please the Most High to show you may be shown to you.” And he departed from me.

40And it happened, when all the people heard that seven days had passed and I had not returned to the city, that all of them gathered together, from the least to the greatest, and came to

41me. And they said to me, “How have we sinned against you, and what wrong have we done to you, that you have utterly forsaken us and

42have sat in this place? For you surpass for us all the prophets, like a cluster from the vintage, and like a lamp in a dark place,"

43and like a harbor for a ship saved from the storm.

44Or are not the evils that have happened to us enough? If then you forsake us, how much better it would have been for us if we too had been burned in the fire

45of Zion. For we are no better than those who died there.” And they wept with a loud voice.

46And I answered them and said, “Take courage, Israel, and do not grieve.”

47For the memory of you is before the Most High,

48For I have not forsaken you, nor have I departed from you, but I came to this place to pray for the desolation of Zion and to seek mercy for the humiliation of your sanctuary.

49And now go, each of you, to his own house, and I will come to you after these days.”

50And the people departed into the city, as I told him.

51But I sat in the field seven days, as he commanded me, and I ate only the flowers of the field; in those days my food was made from herbs.