And I looked, and behold: See 2 Esd 11.2. Contemporary English Version says “As I watched.”

They also disappeared, and the whole body of the eagle was burned: These two clauses predict the fall of Rome (compare 2 Esd 5.3). The pronoun they refers to the remaining two small wings of the eagle. Was burned may be rendered “burst into flames” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version).

And the earth was exceedingly terrified: The earth refers to “the people of the earth.”

Good News Bible again may serve as model for this first half of verse 3, but another possible one is:

• As I watched, these two wings also disappeared. Then the body of the eagle burst into flames, and the people of the world were terribly frightened.

Then I awoke in great perplexity of mind and great fear: Ezra awoke from the dream in which he had the vision of the eagle and the lion (see 2 Esd 11.1). The vision troubled him and made him afraid. In great perplexity of mind may be rendered “in great confusion,” “greatly disturbed in my mind,” or even “my mind/heart was turned upside down.”

And I said to my spirit: This picture of Ezra speaking to his own spirit may be difficult, although that is what was happening. It is probably best to render this clause as “and said to myself” (Contemporary English Version) or simply “I said” (Good News Bible).

Here is a possible model for this last half of verse 3:

• Then I woke up, greatly confused and terribly afraid. I said to myself….

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.