I answered and said may be rendered simply “I answered” (Contemporary English Version; see the comments on verses 1-2).

Each has made a foolish plan, for the land is assigned to the forest, and to the sea is assigned a place to carry its waves: Good News Bible has an excellent model here. Contemporary English Version is also good with “They both had foolish plans! Trees belong in a forest, while waves belong in the sea.”

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.