2Esdras:11

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* Then saw I a dream , and , behold , there came up from the sea an eagle , which had twelve feathered wings , and three heads . * And I saw , and , behold , she spread her wings over all the earth , and all the winds of the air blew on her , and were gathered together . * And I beheld , and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers ; and they became little feathers and small . * But her heads were at rest : the head in the midst was greater than the other , yet rested it with the residue . * Moreover I beheld , and , lo , the eagle flew with her feathers , and reigned upon earth , and over them that dwelt therein . * And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her , and no man spake against her , no , not one creature upon earth . * And I beheld , and , lo , the eagle rose upon her talons , and spake to her feathers , saying , * Watch not all at once : sleep every one in his own place , and watch by course : * But let the heads be preserved for the last . * And I beheld , and , lo , the voice went not out of her heads , but from the midst of her body . * And I numbered her contrary feathers , and , behold , there were eight of them . * And I looked , and , behold , on the right side there arose one feather , and reigned over all the earth ; * And so it was , that when it reigned , the end of it came , and the place thereof appeared no more : so the next following stood up . and reigned , and had a great time ; * And it happened , that when it reigned , the end of it came also , like as the first , so that it appeared no more . * Then came there a voice unto it , and said , * Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long : this I say unto thee , before thou beginnest to appear no more , * There shall none after thee attain unto thy time , neither unto the half thereof . * Then arose the third , and reigned as the other before , and appeared no more also . * So went it with all the residue one after another , as that every one reigned , and then appeared no more . * 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 : * For some of them were set up , but ruled not . * After this I looked , and , behold , the twelve feathers appeared no more , nor the two little feathers : * And there was no more upon the eagle 's body , but three heads that rested , and six little wings . * 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 . * And I beheld , and , lo , the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule . * And I beheld , and , lo , there was one set up , but shortly it appeared no more . * And the second was sooner away than the first . * And I beheld , and , lo , the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign : * 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 . * And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it . * 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 . * 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 . * And after this I beheld , and , lo , the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more , like as the wings . * But there remained the two heads , which also in like sort ruled upon the earth , and over those that dwelt therein . * And I beheld , and , lo , the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side . * Then I head a voice , which said unto me , Look before thee , and consider the thing that thou seest . * 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 , * Hear thou , I will talk with thee , and the Highest shall say unto thee , * 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 ? * 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 compass of the earth with much wicked oppression ; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit . * For the earth hast thou not judged with truth . * 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 . * Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest , and thy pride unto the Mighty . * The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times , and , behold , they are ended , and his abominations are fulfilled . * 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 : * 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 .

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