So when there shall appear in the world earthquakes, tumult of peoples, intrigues of nations, wavering of leaders, confusion of princes …: Compare Matt 24.7; Mark 13.8. Here Uriel lists signs that will occur at the end of time. The conjunction So may be omitted (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). The first sign is earthquakes. There shall appear in the world earthquakes may be rendered “Earthquakes will happen all over the world” or even “The world will shake everywhere.” Tumult of peoples seems to describe mass migrations of people trying to escape troubles, or perhaps political rebellions. This phrase may be translated “People will flee the troubles in huge numbers” or “People will be confused and gather in huge crowds.” Intrigues of nations may be expressed as “Nations will conspire against each other.” Wavering of leaders and confusion of princes mean the same thing. Good News Bible says “unstable leaders, and confused rulers.” It may be better to combine these two phrases by saying “Rulers will do one thing and then another, not really knowing what to do.”

Then you will know that it was of these that the Most High spoke from the days that were of old, from the beginning: Here the author is not referring to Scripture, but probably to apocalypses that were written in the names of people like Adam, Noah, and Enoch, with which he was familiar. The demonstrative pronoun these refers to the signs mentioned in verse 3.

An alternative model for verses 3-4 is:

• 3 There will be earthquakes. People will be confused and gather in huge crowds. Nations will conspire against each other. Rulers will do one thing and then another, not really knowing what to do. When these things happen, 4 you will know that they are what God Most High has been speaking about from the beginning of time [or, history].

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.