1
In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the Great, on the first day of Nisan, Mordecai son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream.
2
He was a Jew living in the city of Susa, a great man, serving in the court of the king.
3
He was one of the captives whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had brought from Jerusalem with King Jeconiah of Judea. And this was his dream:
4
Noises and confusion, thunders and earthquake, tumult on the earth!
5
Then two great dragons came forward, both ready to fight, and they roared terribly.
6
At their roaring every nation prepared for war, to fight against the righteous nation.
7
It was a day of darkness and gloom, of tribulation and distress, affliction and great tumult on the earth!
8
And the whole righteous nation was troubled; they feared the evils that threatened them, and were ready to perish.
9
Then they cried out to God; and at their outcry, as though from a tiny spring, there came a great river, with abundant water;