And now may be rendered “So” (Good News Bible) or “Therefore” to introduce Zerubbabel’s conclusion.

O lord the king: Both Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version say “Your Majesty.”

This is what I ask and request of you: The Greek verbs for ask and request have the same meaning in this context. Both are used for emphasis. Good News Bible uses only the verb “beg,” which signifies a strong request, and translators should be able to find a similar verb in their languages.

And this befits your greatness tells the king that granting these requests would show everyone how great the king really is. We may render the first sentence of this verse as follows: “So, Your Majesty, I am begging [or, pleading with] you to grant my requests to show how great you are.”

I pray therefore that you fulfil the vow whose fulfilment you vowed to the King of heaven with your own lips: This sentence is repetitious in Greek. Translators can shorten it without losing any part of the meaning by saying “I ask you to keep your promise to the King of heaven.” The King of heaven refers to God, who rules in heaven (compare Dan 4.37; Tob 13.7). With your own lips is a redundant phrase in English, so Good News Bible omits it, which other languages may find helpful.

Contemporary English Version provides the following helpful model for this verse:

• Your Majesty, all I ask is that you show how great you are by keeping these promises you made to God, the King of heaven.

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.