1
In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the Great, on the first day of the month of Nisan, Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream.
2
He was a Jew, and dwelt in the city of Shushan, a great man, being a servitor in the king's court.
3
He was also one of the captives, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon carried from Jerusalem with Jechoniah king of Judah. And this was his dream:
4
Behold, a noise of a tumult, with thunder and earthquakes and uproar in the land!
5
And behold, two great dragons came forth ready to fight, and their cry was great.
6
And at their cry all nations were prepared to battle, that they might fight against the righteous people. Œ
7
And lo, a day of darkness and obscurity, tribulation and anguish, affliction and great uproar upon earth!
8
And the whole righteous nation was troubled, fearing their own evils, and were ready to perish.