Revised Standard Version quotes the words of the prophets in direct speech (verses 83-85). These words are a quotation within the quotation of Ezra’s prayer. Revised Standard Version marks them by single opening and closing quotation marks. Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version avoid two levels of quotation by restating the prophets’ words as an indirect quotation. Translators should use the form of quotation that is appropriate for this narrative in the receptor culture.

The land which you are entering: The original context of this expression is the time when the people of Israel were about to enter the promised land of Canaan after their delivery and exodus from Egypt (see Deut 4.1). However, translators should not identify the land.

To take possession of it: The promise given to their ancestors was that they would possess the land and it would become theirs (see Deut 1.8). Translators should use a verb here that is appropriate for taking possession of land in contrast with possessing objects. Many languages have expressions that are equivalent to the English verb “occupy” (Good News Bible).

Is a land polluted with the pollution of the aliens of the land: The Greek verb for polluted and the noun for pollution come from the same root. Here these words refer figuratively to the defilement of Canaan caused by the pagan lifestyle of the people who lived there. These Gentiles lived and worshiped in ways that were considered disgusting to observant Jews.

And they have filled it with their uncleanness means the Gentiles did many disgusting things in Canaan. This clause repeats the idea in the previous one for emphasis. For the Greek word rendered uncleanness, see the comments on verse 69, where it is translated “pollutions.”

Alternative models that use indirect speech for this verse are:

• the land that you were giving us was full of sinful heathens who never stopped doing disgusting things.

• the land that we were to conquer was full of heathens who filled it with all their disgusting acts.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.