1 Then I saw a dream, and see, an eagle came up from the sea, which had twelve feathered wings and three heads.
2 And I looked, and see, it spread its wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew on it, and were gathered together.
3 And I looked, and out of its wings grew other opposing wings; and they became little wings but smaller.
4 And its heads were at rest – the head in the midst was greater than the others, yet it rested with the others.
5 And I looked, and see, the eagle flew with its wings, and reigned on earth, and over those who dwelt in it.
6 And I saw that all under the shamayim were subject to it, and no man spoke against it, no, not one creature on earth.
7 And I looked, and see, the eagle rose up on its talons, and spoke to its wings, saying,
8 “Do not watch all at once; every one sleep in its own place, and watch in turn;
9 but let the heads be reserved for the last.”
10 And I looked, and see, the voice did not come out of its heads, but from the midst of its body.
11 And I numbered its opposing wings, and, see, there were eight of them.
12 And I looked, and see, on the right side there arose one wing, and reigned over all the earth;
13 and so it was, that when it reigned, its end came, and its place appeared no more; so the next following stood up and reigned, and reigned a long time.
14 And it came to be, that when it reigned, its end also came, as the first, so that it appeared no more.
15 Then a voice came unto it, and said,
16 “Listen, you who have ruled over the earth so long; I say this to you, before the time you are no longer seen:
17 “None after you shall attain to your time, neither to the half of it.”
18 Then the third arose, and reigned as the other before, and also appeared no more.
19 So it came to be with all the remaining, one after another, so that each one reigned, and then appeared no more.
20 Then I looked, and see, in the course of time the wings that followed stood up on the right side, that they might also reign; and some of them reigned, but in a little while they appeared no more;
21 for some of them rose up, but did not reign.
22 After this I looked, and see, the twelve wings appeared no more, nor the two little wings;
23 and there was no more on the eagle’s body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.
24 Then I also saw that two little wings separated themselves from the six, and remained under the head that was on the right side; for the four remained in their place.
25 And I looked, and see, the wings that were under the wing thought to appoint themselves and to reign.
26 And I looked, and see, there was one appointed, but soon it appeared no more.
27 And the second went away sooner than the first.
28 And I looked, and see, the two that remained also thought within themselves to reign;
29 and when they thought so, see, one of the heads that was at rest awoke – that which was in the midst; for it was greater than the two other heads.
30 And then I saw that the other two heads were joined with it,
31 and see, the head was turned with those who were with it, and ate up the two wings under the wing that would have reigned.
32 But this head put the whole earth in fear, and reigned over all those who dwelt on the earth with great oppression; and it governed over the world more than all the wings that had been.
33 And after this I looked, and see, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, as the wings.
34 But the two heads remained, which in like manner also ruled over the earth, and over those who dwelt in it.
35 And I looked, and see, the head on the right side devoured that which was on the left side.
36 Then I heard a voice, which said to me, “Look in front of you, and consider that which you see.”
37 And I looked, and saw what was like a roaring lion chased out of the forest; and I saw that it sent out the voice of a man to the eagle, and said,
38 “Listen, I shall speak with you, and the Most High says to you:
39 ‘Are you not that which remains 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 fear, and over the whole circle of the earth with much evil oppression; and it dwelt upon the earth for a long time with deceit.
41’ For you have judged the earth, but not with truth.
42 ‘For you have afflicted the meek, you have hurt the peaceable, you have loved the false, and destroyed the dwellings of those who brought forth fruit, and have thrown down the walls of those who did you no harm.
43 ‘Therefore your wrongdoing has come up before the Most High, and your pride to the Almighty.
44 ‘The Most High has also looked upon the proud times, and see, they have ended, and its abominations are complete.
45 ‘And therefore you eagle, appear no more, nor your horrible wings, nor your evil wings nor your wicked heads, nor your evil claws, nor your whole worthless body;
46 ‘That all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being delivered from your violence, and that it may have expectancy for the judgment and kindness from He who made it.’ ”