New Revised Standard Version indicates that Ezra is speaking here by beginning verse 25 with the quote frame “Then Ezra the scribe said,” which other languages may find helpful. New Revised Standard Version also adds a footnote to indicate that this quote frame is not in the Greek text. Contemporary English Version has “Because King Artaxerxes was so kind, Ezra said,” and Good News Bible says simply “Ezra said.”

Blessed be the Lord alone: See the comments on 1 Esd 4.40. We may render this clause as “I want to praise only the Lord” or simply “Praise the Lord alone!”

Who put this into the heart of the king means that God led the king to make the Temple glorious and to treat Ezra himself with respect. The king issued the decree, but God is to be thanked and honored for making it possible. In the first model below we express the sense of Blessed be the Lord at both the beginning and the end of verses 25-26. Verse 26 needs to begin with the statement of praise, but it may prove easier to express the matters for which Ezra is praising God by making statements of them, and then saying, “I thank only the Lord,” thus combining the two verses.

To glorify his house which is in Jerusalem may be rendered “to give honor to his Temple which is in Jerusalem,” “to make his Temple in Jerusalem glorious again,” or even “to make his Temple in Jerusalem receive its former glory [or, fame].”

And who honored me in the sight of the king and his counselors and all his friends and nobles: Ezra also gives God credit for letting him be respected by the king and the most important officials of the king. For the king’s friends, that is, his closest advisers, see verse 11; for his nobles, see the comments on 1 Esd 3.1-2.

Here are alternative models for verses 25-26:

• 25-26 After this Ezra said, “Praise the Lord! The king has decided to allow the Temple in Jerusalem to be restored to its former splendor. I have the respect of the king, and of all his advisers and officials and nobles [or, important men]. The Lord has caused all of this to happen, and I have only the Lord to thank [or, I thank only the Lord for it].

• 25 Then Ezra said, “Praise the Lord alone for everything [or, causing all this to happen]! He caused the king to allow us to restore the Temple in Jerusalem to be glorious again. 26 I also have the respect of the king and all his advisers and officials and nobles.

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.