The Persian king’s proclamation extends from verse 3 through verse 7. Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version indent this whole passage in order to set it apart from the rest of the text. We suggest that translators follow this indentation, or use some other device to help the reader know that this material is the proclamation of the king. Quotation marks should be used at least.

Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians is a formal introduction to the proclamation, alerting the readers/hearers to the fact that what follows is important because it has royal authority behind it. Compare the frequent expression “Thus says the LORD” in the Old Testament prophets. Some translators may find Contemporary English Version‘s rendering useful: “I am King Cyrus of Persia.” Or we may say “I am Cyrus, king of Persia.” In translating the personal pronouns for the king in this passage, translators need to decide if it is more appropriate to have the king speak of himself in the first person or with special royal honorifics, as is customary in some countries.

The Lord of Israel, the Lord Most High, has made me king of the world: Here Cyrus makes the claim that God has given him all his power. The writer of 1 Esdras makes this claim more emphatic than his source in Ezra 1.2 by identifying the Lord as specifically the Lord of Israel and the Lord Most High. The Lord Most High refers to the Lord’s rule over all creation, his being superior to all other authorities. This expression is used frequently in the Old Testament. Translators may consult their renderings of such passages as Gen 14.18; Psa 7.17; 47.2; see also Sir 50.19; Man 1.7.

Good News Bible may be used as a model for this verse. But Contemporary English Version is also helpful with the following model:

• I am King Cyrus of Persia.
The Most High God, the Lord of Israel, has made me the ruler of the world.

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.