And said: Good News Bible places this quote frame in the previous verse, as in the Greek text. Good News Bible renders it “They said to one another.” Some languages may prefer indirect speech here, as in verses 5-7 (see the comments on 1 Esdras 3.4).

When the king wakes, they will give him the writing: Somehow the translator must make it clear that the three bodyguards are not going to give the king the writing, that is, their three written messages. The pronoun they refers to the king’s servants, which some languages will need to make explicit (see the model below). They will find the messages and give them to the king. Good News Bible uses the passive expression “the statements will be given to him” (similarly Contemporary English Version), but in many languages it will not be possible to use this model.

And to the one whose statement the king and the three nobles of Persia judge to be wisest the victory shall be given according to what is written: This is the first time we learn that other people will join the king to act as judges. The three nobles of Persia must refer to three men closest to the king. This phrase may be rendered “the three leading officials of Persia” (Good News Bible) or “the three highest Persian officials.” Est 1.14 names seven such men, but the Greek text here mentions only three. The victory shall be given according to what is written refers to the proposed prizes of the bodyguards (see verses 6-7 and 1 Esd 4.42).

Here is an alternative model for this verse, one that uses indirect speech:

• Their idea was that when the king woke up, his servants would give him the messages. Then the king and the three highest Persian officials would decide who [or, which of the three guards] gave the wisest answer. That man would then receive the rewards they had described in writing.

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.