Old Testament

New Testament

2 Esdras 11:11-25 Good News Bible Anglicised (GNBDC)

11. I counted its rival wings, and there were eight of them.

12. I saw one of the wings on the right side rise up and govern the whole world.

13. After its rule came to an end, it vanished so completely that it left no trace. Then the next wing rose up and governed for a long time.

14. When its rule was coming to an end and it was about to vanish like the first wing,

15. a voice said to it,

16. “Listen, you have ruled the world for a long time, and I want you to hear this message before you disappear:

17. no one after you will rule as long as you did — not even half as long.”

18. The third wing rose up and governed as the earlier ones had done; then it also vanished.

19. The same thing happened to all the other wings: one after the other they rose to power and then vanished.

20. I kept looking, and after a while the other small wings on the right side rose up to seize power. Some of them governed briefly and quickly disappeared,

21. while others rose up but were never able to govern.

22. Then I noticed that the twelve large wings and two of the small wings had disappeared.

23. Nothing was left on the eagle's body except the three sleeping heads and the six small wings.

24. I kept watching, and suddenly two of the six small wings left the others and moved under the head on the right side, while the other four remained where they were.

25. Then I saw that these four small wings were plotting to rise up and seize power.

Read complete chapter 2 Esdras 11