4 Esdras 13

²And behold there rose a wind from the sea, that troubled all the waves thereof.

³And I saw, and behold that man grew strong with thousands of heaven: and when he turned his countenance to consider, all things trembled that were seen under him:

⁴& wheresoever voice proceeded out of his mouth, all that heard his voices began to burn, as the earth is quiet when it feeleth the fire.

⁵And I saw after these, and behold a multitude of men was gathered together, of whom there was no number, from the four winds of heaven, to fight against the man that was come up out of the sea.

⁶And I saw, and behold he had graven to himself a great mountain, and he flew upon it.

⁷And I sought to see the country, or the place whence the mountain was graven, and I could not.

⁸And after these things I saw, and behold all that were gathered to him, to overthrow him, feared exceedingly, yet they were bold to fight.

⁹And behold as he saw the violence of the multitude that came, he lifted not up his hand, nor held sword, nor any warlike instrument, but only as I saw,

¹⁰that he sent forth out of his mouth as it were a blast of fire, and from his lips a spirit of flame, & from his tongue he sent forth sparkles and tempests, & all things were mingled together with this blast of fire, and spirit of flame, and multitude of tempests.

¹¹And it fell with violence upon the multitude, that was prepared to fight, and burned them all, that suddenly there was nothing seen of an innumerable multitude, but only dust, and the savour of smoke: and I saw, and was afraid.

¹²And after these things I saw the man himself descending from the mountain, and calling to him another peaceable multitude,

¹³and there came to him the countenance of many men, some rejoicing, and some sorrowing: and some bond, some bringing of them that were offered. And I was sick for much fear, & awaked, and said.

¹⁴Thou from the beginning hast shewed thy servant these marvelous things, and hast counted me worthy that thou wouldest receive my petition.

¹⁵And now shew me yet the interpretation of this dream.

¹⁶For as I think in my judgement, woe to them that were left in those days: and much more woe to them that were not left.

¹⁷For they that were not left, were sorrowful.

¹⁸I understand now what things are laid up in the later days, and they shall happen to them, yea and to them that are left.

¹⁹For therefore they came into great dangers, and many necessities, as these dreams do shew.

²⁰But yet it is easier, adventuring to come into it, than to pass, as a cloud from the world, and not to see the things that happen in the later time. And he answered me, and said:

²¹Both the interpretation of the vision I will tell thee: and also concerning the things that thou hast spoken I will open to thee.

²²Whereas thou speakest of them that were left, this is the interpretation.

²³He that taketh away danger at that time, he hath guarded himself. They that have fallen into danger, these are they that have works, and faith in the Strongest.

²⁴Know therefore that they are more blessed which are left, than they that are dead.

²⁵These are the interpretations of the vision, whereas thou sawest a man coming from the heart of the sea,

²⁶the same is he whom the Highest preserveth much time, which by himself shall deliver his creature: and he shall dispose them that are left.

²⁷And whereas thou sawest proceed out of his mouth, as it were wind, and fire, and tempest:

²⁸and whereas he held no sword, nor warlike instrument: for his violence destroyed the multitude that came to overthrow him: this is the interpretation.

²⁹Behold the days come, when the Highest shall begin to deliver them, that are upon the earth:

³⁰and he shall come in excess of mind upon them that inhabit the earth.

³¹And one shall think

³²And it shall be, when these things shall come to pass, and the signs shall happen, which I shewed thee before: and then shall my son be revealed, whom thou sawest, as a man coming up.

³³And it shall be when all nations shall hear his voice: and every one in his country shall leave their war, that they have toward each other:

³⁴and an innumerable multitude shall be gathered in one, as willing to come to overthrow him.

³⁵But he shall stand upon the top of mount Sion.

³⁶And Sion shall come, and it shall be shewed to all prepared and builded, as thou sawest the mountain to be graven without hands.

³⁷And the same my son shall reprove the things that the Gentiles have invented, these their impieties which came near to the tempest, because of their evil cogitations, and torments wherewith they shall begin to be tormented.

³⁸Which were likened to the flame, and he shall destroy them without labour by the law that was likened to the fire.

³⁹And whereas thou sawest him gathering unto him another peaceable multitude.

⁴⁰These are the ten tribes, which were made captive out of their land in the days of Osee the king, whom Salmanasar the king of the Assyrians led captive: and he transported them beyond the river, and they were transported into another land. 4. .

⁴¹But they gave themselves this counsel, to forsake the multitude of nations, and to go forth into a farther country, where mankind never inhabited.

⁴²Or there to observe their ordinances, which they had not kept in their country.

⁴³And they entered in by the narrow entrances of the river Euphrates.

⁴⁴For the Highest then wrought them signs, and stayed the veins of the river till they passed. Exod. 14. Iosue. 3.

⁴⁵For by that country was a great way to go, of one year and a half: for the country is called Arsareth.

⁴⁶Then did they inhabit there till in the later time: and now again when they begin to come,

⁴⁷again the Highest shall stay the veins of the river, that they may pass: for these thou sawest a multitude with peace.

⁴⁸But they also that were left of the people, these are they that be within my border.

⁴⁹It shall come to pass therefore, when he shall begin to destroy the multitude of these nations, that are gathered, he shall protect them that have overcome the people:

⁵⁰and then shall he shew them very many wonders.

⁵¹And I said: Lord dominatour, shew me this, why I saw a man coming up from the heart of the sea, and he said to me:

⁵²As thou canst not either search these things, or know what things are in the depth of the sea: so cannot any man upon the earth see my son, or them that are with him, but in the time of a day.

⁵³This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, and for the which thou only art here illuminated.

⁵⁴For thou hast left thine own law, and hast been occupied about my law, and hast sought it.

⁵⁵For thou hast disposed thy life in wisdom, and thine understanding thou hast called mother:

⁵⁶and for this I have shewed thee riches with the Highest. For it shall be after other three days, I will speak other things to thee, and I will expound to thee weighty and marvelous things.

⁵⁷And I went forth, and passed into the field, much glorifying and praising the Highest for the marvelous things that he did by time.

⁵⁸And because he governeth it, and the things that are brought in times, and I sat there three days.