2 Esdras 9-12

Chapter 9

He answered me then, and said, Measure thou the time diligently in itself: and when thou see part of the signs past, which I have told thee before, 2 Then shall thou understand, that it is the very same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world which He made. 3 Therefore when there shall be seen earthquakes and uproars of the people in the world: 4 Then shall thou well understand, that the Most High spoke of those things from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning. 5 For like as all that is made in the world has a beginning and an end, and the end is manifest: 6 Even so the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings in wonder and powerful works, and endings in effects and signs. 7 And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his works, and by faith, whereby ye have believed, 8 Shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see My salvation in My land, and within My borders: for I have sanctified them for Me from the beginning. 9 Then shall they be in pitiful case, which now have abused My ways: and they that have cast them away despitefully shall dwell in torments. 10 For such as in their life have received benefits, and have not known Me; 11 And they that have loathed My law, while they had yet liberty, and, when as yet place of repentance was open unto them, understood not, but despised it; 12 The same must know it after death by pain. 13 And therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be punished, and when: but inquire how the righteous shall be saved, whose the world is, and for whom the world is created.

14 Then answered I and said, 15 I have said before, and now do speak, and will speak it also hereafter, that there be many more of them which perish, than of them which shall be saved: 16 Like as a wave is greater than a drop.

17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the seed; as the flowers be, such are the colors also; such as the workman is, such also is the work; and as the husbandman is himself, so is his husbandry also: for it was the time of the world. 18 And now when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, even for them to dwell in that now live, no man spoke against me. 19 For then everyone obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, and by a law which is unsearchable rid themselves. 20 So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come into it. 21 And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept Me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great people. 22 Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let My grape be kept, and My plant; for with great labor have I made it perfect. 23 Nevertheless, if thou will cease yet seven days more, (but thou shall not fast in them, 24 But go into a field of flowers, where no house is built, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;) 25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.

26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me. 27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me, like as before: 28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the Most High, and said, 29 O Lord, Thou that show Thyself unto us, Thou was showed unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treads, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt. 30 And Thou spoke saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark My words, thou seed of Jacob. 31 For, behold, I sow My law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and ye shall be honored in it forever. 32 But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed not Thy ordinances: and though the fruit of Thy law did not perish, neither could it, for it was Thine; 33 Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them. 34 And, lo, it is a custom, when the ground has received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished wherein it was sown or cast into, 35 That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, does perish, and remains not with us: but with us it has not happened so. 36 For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart also which received it. 37 Notwithstanding the law perishes not, but remains in his force.

38 And when I spoke these things in my heart, I looked back with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head. 39 Then let I my thoughts go that I was in, and turned me unto her, 40 And said unto her, Wherefore weep thou? why are thou so grieved in thy mind? 41 And she said unto me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewail myself, and add unto my sorrow, for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low. 42 And I said unto her, What ails thee? tell me. 43 She said unto me, I thy servant have been barren, and had no child, though I had a husband thirty years, 44 And those thirty years I did nothing else day and night, and every hour, but make my, prayer to the Highest. 45 After thirty years God heard me thine handmaid, looked upon my misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son: and I was very glad of him, so was my husband also, and all my neighbors: and we gave great honor unto the Almighty. 46 And I nourished him with great travail. 47 So when he grew up, and came to the time that he should have a wife, I made a feast.

Chapter 10

And it so came to pass, that when my son was entered into his wedding chamber, he fell down, and died. 2 Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbors rose up to comfort me: so I took my rest unto the second day at night. 3 And it came to pass, when they had all left off to comfort me, to the end I might be quiet; then rose I up by night and fled, and came here into this field, as thou see. 4 And I do now purpose not to return into the city, but here to stay, and neither to eat nor drink, but continually to mourn and to fast until I die.

5 Then left I the meditations wherein I was, and spoke to her in anger, saying, 6 Thou foolish woman above all other, see thou not our mourning, and what happens unto us? 7 How that Sion our mother is full of all heaviness, and much humbled, mourning very sore? 8 And now, seeing we all mourn and are sad, for we are all in heaviness, are thou grieved for one son? 9 For ask the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which ought to mourn for the fall of so many that grow upon her. 10 For out of her came all at the first, and out of her shall all others come, and, behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and a multitude of them is utterly rooted out. 11 Who then should make more mourning than she, that has lost so great a multitude; and not thou, which are sorry but for one?

12 But if thou say unto me, My lamentation is not like the earth’s, because I have lost the fruit of my womb, which I brought forth with pains, and bare with sorrows; 13 But the earth not so: for the multitude present in it according to the course of the earth is gone, as it came: 14 Then say I unto thee, Like as thou has brought forth with labor; even so the earth also has given her fruit, namely, man, ever since the beginning unto him that made her. 15 Now therefore keep thy sorrow to thyself, and bear with a good courage that which has befallen thee. 16 For if thou shall acknowledge the determination of God to be just, thou shall both receive thy son in time, and shall be commended among women. 17 Go thy way then into the city to thine husband.

18 And she said unto me, That will I not do: I will not go into the city, but here will I die.

19 So I proceeded to speak further unto her, and said, 20 Do not so, but be counseled. by me: for how many are the adversities of Sion? be comforted in regard of the sorrow of Jerusalem. 21 For thou see that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed; 22 Our psaltery is laid on the ground, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end, the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is almost profaned: our children are put to shame, our priests are burnt, our Levites are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men carried away, our little ones destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage, and our strong men are become weak; 23 And, which is the greatest of all, the seal of Sion has now lost her honor; for she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us. 24 And therefore shake off thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee again, and the Highest shall give thee rest and ease from thy labor.

25 And it came to pass while I was talking with her, behold, her face upon a sudden shined exceedingly, and her countenance glistered, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be. 26 And, behold, suddenly she made a great cry very fearful: so that the earth shook at the noise of the woman. 27 And I looked, and, behold, the woman appeared unto me no more, but there was a city built, and a large place showed itself from the foundations: then was I afraid, and cried with a loud voice, and said, 28 Where is Uriel the angel, who came unto me at the first? for he has caused me to fall into many trances, and mine end is turned into corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.

29 And as I was speaking these words behold, he came unto me, and looked upon me. 30 And, lo, I lay as one that had been dead, and mine understanding was taken from me: and he took me by the right hand, and comforted me, and set me upon my feet, and said unto me, 31 What ails thee? and why are thou so disquieted? and why is thine understanding troubled, and the thoughts of thine heart?

32 And I said, Because thou has forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and, lo, I have seen, and yet see, that I am not able to express.

33 And he said unto me, Stand up manfully, and I will advise thee.

34 Then said I, Speak on, my lord, in me; only forsake me not, lest I die frustrate of my hope. 35 For I have seen that I knew not, and hear that I do not know. 36 Or is my sense deceived, or my soul in a dream? 37 Now therefore I beseech thee that thou will show thy servant of this vision.

38 He answered me then, and said, Hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou are afraid: for the Highest will reveal many secret things unto thee. 39 He has seen that thy way is right: for that thou sorrow continually for thy people, and make great lamentation for Sion. 40 This therefore is the meaning of the vision which thou lately saw: 41 Thou saw a woman mourning, and thou began to comfort her: 42 But now see thou the likeness of the woman no more, but there appeared unto thee a city built. 43 And whereas she told thee of the death of her son, this is the solution: 44 This woman, whom thou saw is Sion: and whereas she said unto thee, even she whom thou see as a city built, 45 Whereas, I say, she said unto thee, that she has been thirty years barren: those are the thirty years wherein there was no offering made in her. 46 But after thirty years Solomon built the city and offered offerings: and then bare the barren a son. 47 And whereas she told thee that she nourished him with labor: that was the dwelling in Jerusalem. 48 But whereas she said unto thee, That my son coming into his marriage chamber happened to have a fail, and died: this was the destruction that came to Jerusalem. 49 And, behold, thou saw her likeness, and because she mourned for her son, thou began to comfort her: and of these things which have chanced, these are to be opened unto thee. 50 For now the Most High sees that thou are grieved unfeignedly, and suffer from thy whole heart for her, so has He showed thee the brightness of her glory, and the comeliness of her beauty: 51 And therefore I bade thee remain in the field where no house was built: 52 For I knew that the Highest would show this unto thee. 53 Therefore I commanded thee to go into the field, where no foundation of any building was. 54 For in the place wherein the Highest begins to show His city, there can no man’s building be able to stand. 55 And therefore fear not, let not thine heart be affrighted, but go thy way in, and see the beauty and greatness of the building, as much as thine eyes be able to see: 56 And then shall thou hear as much as thine ears may comprehend. 57 For thou are blessed above many other, and are called with the Highest; and so are but few. 58 But tomorrow at night thou shall remain here; 59 And so shall the Highest show thee visions of the high things, which the Most High will do unto them that dwell upon the earth in the last days. So I slept that night and another, like as he commanded me.

Chapter 11

Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads. 2 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. 3 And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small. 4 But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the residue. 5 Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein. 6 And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spoke against her, no, not one creature upon earth.

7 And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spoke to her feathers, saying, 8 Watch not all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch by course: 9 But let the heads be preserved for the last. 10 And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body. 11 And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.

12 And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth; 13 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; 14 And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more. 15 Then came there a voice unto it, and said, 16 Hear thou that has borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto thee, before thou begin to appear no more, 17 There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto the half thereof. 18 Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also. 19 So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then appeared no more.

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: 21 For some of them were set up, but ruled not. 22 After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers: 23 And there was no more upon the eagle’s body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings. 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. 25 And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule. 26 And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more. 27 And the second was sooner away than the first. 28 And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign: 29 And when they so thought, behold, there awoke one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other heads. 30 And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it. 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. 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. 33 And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings. 34 But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein. 35 And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.

36 Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou see. 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, 38 Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee, 39 Are not thou it that remain of the four beasts, whom I made to reign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them? 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 compass of the earth with much-wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit. 41 For the earth has thou not judged with truth. 42 For thou has afflicted the meek, thou has hurt the peaceable, thou has loved liars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and has cast down the walls of such as did thee no harm. 43 Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty. 44 The Highest also has looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled. 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: 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.

Chapter 12

And it came to pass, whiles the lion spoke these words unto the eagle, I saw, 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. 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 awoke I out of the trouble and trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit, 4 Lo, this has thou done unto me, in that thou search out the ways of the Highest. 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. 6 Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that He will comfort me unto the end. 7 And I said, Lord that bear 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; 8 Comfort me then, and show me Thy servant the interpretation and plain difference of this fearful vision, that Thou may perfectly comfort my soul. 9 For Thou has judged me worthy to show me the last times.

10 And he said unto me, This is the interpretation of the vision: 11 The eagle, whom thou saw come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel. 12 But it was not expounded unto him, therefore now I declare it unto thee. 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. 14 In the same shall twelve kings reign, one after another: 15 Whereof the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than any of the twelve. 16 And this do the twelve wings signify, which thou saw.

17 As for the voice which thou heard speak, and that thou saw not to go out from the heads but from the midst of the body thereof, this is the interpretation: 18 That after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great strivings, and it shall stand in peril of failing: nevertheless it shall not then fall, but shall be restored again to his beginning.

19 And whereas thou saw the eight small under feathers sticking to her wings, this is the interpretation: 20 That in him there shall arise eight kings, whose times shall be but small, and their years swift. 21 And two of them shall perish, the middle time approaching: four shall be kept until their end begin to approach: but two shall be kept unto the end.

22 And whereas thou saw three heads resting, this is the interpretation: 23 In his last days shall the Most High raise up three kingdoms, and renew many things therein, and they shall have the dominion of the earth, 24 And of those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all those that were before them: therefore are they called the heads of the eagle. 25 For these are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that shall finish his last end. 26 And whereas thou saw that the great head appeared no more, it signifies that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain. 27 For the two that remain shall be slain with the sword. 28 For the sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself.

29 And whereas thou saw two feathers under the wings passing over the head that is on the right side; 30 It signifies that these are they, whom the Highest has kept unto their end: this is the small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou saw.

31 And the lion, whom thou saw rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to the eagle, and rebuking her for her unrighteousness with all the words which thou has heard; 32 This is the anointed, which the Highest has kept for them and for their wickedness unto the end: He shall reprove them, and shall upbraid them with their cruelty. 33 For He shall set them before Him alive in judgment, and shall rebuke them, and correct them. 34 For the rest of my people shall He deliver with mercy, those that have been pressed upon my borders, and He shall make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgment, whereof I have spoken unto thee from the beginning.

35 This is the dream that thou saw, and these are the interpretations. 36 Thou only has been meet to know this secret of the Highest. 37 Therefore write all these things that thou has seen in a book, and hide them: 38 And teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou know may comprehend and keep these secrets. 39 But wait thou here thyself yet seven days more, that it may be showed thee, whatsoever it pleases the Highest to declare unto thee. And with that he went his way.

40 And it came to pass, when all the people saw that the seven days were past, and I not come again into the city, they gathered them all together, from the least unto the greatest, and came unto me, and said, 41 What have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsake us, and sit here in this place? 42 For of all the prophets thou only are left us, as a cluster of the vintage, and as a candle in a dark place, and as a haven or ship preserved from the tempest. 43 Are not the evils which are come to us sufficient? 44 If thou shall forsake us, how much better had it been for us, if we also had been burned in the midst of Sion?

45 For we are not better than they that died there. And they wept with a loud voice. Then answered I them, and said, 46 Be of good comfort, O Israel; and be not heavy, thou house of Jacob: 47 For the Highest has you in remembrance, and the Mighty has not forgotten you in temptation. 48 As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come into this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion, and that I might seek mercy for the low estate of your sanctuary. 49 And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you.

50 So the people went their way into the city, like as I commanded them: 51 But I remained still in the field seven days, as the angel commanded me; and did eat only in those days of the flowers of the field, and had my meat of the herbs.

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King James Version Bible. It was authorized by King James I. It was translated by the Church of England and was first published in 1611.

God’s words are in red letters, old and new testament, as it should be. It is in paragraph form for easy reading. With all verses numbers labeled in blue for quick reference.

The Apocrypha was in the original King James version of the Bible. It should never have been removed. At the time Jesus was on earth the old testament and the Apocrypha scriptures were studied.

All scripture is Jewish scripture, Judaism is a religion not an ethnicity. Jesus is the Savior of the Jews. He is the Head of the Church.

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

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