2 Esdras 11:36-12:6

Common English Bible

³⁶ I heard a voice saying to me, “Look in front of you and consider what you see.” ³⁷ I looked and saw something like a lion being roused, roaring out of the forest. I heard how he spoke in a human voice and said to the eagle, ³⁸ “Listen, you, and I will speak to you. The Most High says to you, ³⁹ ‘Aren’t you the last of the four beasts that I made to rule in my world so that I might bring about the end of my times through them? ⁴⁰ You, the fourth that has come, conquered all the beasts that came before you, ruling over the world with much terror and over the whole world with harsh oppression. You have lived in the world with deceit for so long! ⁴¹ You judged the earth, but not in truth, ⁴² for you have oppressed the meek and injured those who caused no unrest. You hated those who spoke the truth and loved liars. You destroyed the dwellings of those who bore fruit and tore down the walls of those who had done you no harm. ⁴³ Your insolence has ascended to the Most High and your pride to the mighty one. ⁴⁴ The Most High has reviewed his times. Look! They are finished, and his ages are complete. ⁴⁵ Therefore, eagle, you must utterly vanish, you and your terrifying wings, your dreadful little wings and your evil heads, and your dreadful talons and all your worthless body. ⁴⁶ Then the whole earth will be refreshed and restored, set free from your violence, and will hope for the judgment and mercy of him who made it.’”

12 While the lion was saying these words to the eagle, I looked ² and saw that the head that had prevailed disappeared, and the two wings that had gone over to it rose up so that they might rule, but their rule was weak and chaotic. ³ I watched as they disappeared, and the whole body of the eagle was burned; the earth was filled with fear.

I woke up because my mind was racing and full of fear. I said to myself, ⁴ Look, you’ve brought all this on yourself with your probing into the ways of the Most High. ⁵ Look here! I’m emotionally exhausted and barely alive. I don’t have even a little strength left in me because of the great fear that has shaken me this night. ⁶ Now, therefore, I will pray to the Most High that he may strengthen me to the end.