For indeed I will not concern myself about the fashioning of those who have sinned, or about their death, their judgment, or their destruction; but I will rejoice over the creation of the righteous, over their pilgrimage also, and their salvation, and their receiving their reward: For indeed may be rendered “You can be sure that” (Good News Bible), “It’s true that” (Contemporary English Version), or even “The truth is.” I will not concern myself may be translated “I will give no thought to” (Good News Bible), “I won’t even think about” (Contemporary English Version), or “I don’t care about.” The Latin words for fashioning and creation have exactly the same meaning in this context; here they refer to the existence of bad people and good people. Both words refer more specifically to their “coming into existence” (“birth” in Contemporary English Version). What God says here is that he will not worry about the destiny of the unrighteous. The fate coming to them is to die, be judged, and be destroyed, but God will not be concerned with them. Instead, he will be happy about what is coming for the righteous: their time on earth (pilgrimage), their being saved, and the reward of eternal life that awaits them. We suggest the following model for these verses:

• 38 The truth is, I don’t care about the sinners. I will not be concerned about how they are born, how they die, or how they are sentenced to eternal death. 39 It is the righteous that I will take pride in: how they are born, how they live their lives, how they are saved, and how they receive eternal life as their reward at the judgment.

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.