For this is the way of which Moses, while he was alive, spoke to the people, saying: The connector For may be omitted. This is the way of which Moses … spoke … may be rendered “This is what Moses meant when he spoke….” Saying that Moses spoke these words while he was alive will sound strange in many languages, since he had to be alive if he spoke to the people. This clause may be omitted in translation, but its meaning is probably well expressed by saying “just before he died.”

Choose for yourself life, that you may live!: Moses spoke these words in Deut 30.19. Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version use indirect speech for this embedded quote, which other languages may find helpful. Contemporary English Version has “to choose life, so that they would live a good and prosperous life.”

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• This is what Moses meant when he spoke to the people just before he died, saying, ‘Choose life! Live!’ [or, ‘Choose life so that you may live!’]

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.