For you have afflicted the meek and injured the peaceable: Compare Matt 5.3, 5. The conjunction for is better rendered “and” (Contemporary English Version), or omitted (so Good News Bible). Afflicted may be translated “tortured” (Contemporary English Version) or “treated viciously.” In this context the Latin word for meek refers to harmless or innocent people. These two clauses may be expressed as “You have tortured [or, viciously attacked] harmless people, and injured those who live peaceably.”

You have hated those who tell the truth, and have loved liars: According to 2 Esd 5.1, the end times will be marked by an absence of truth (see also 2 Esd 6.28; 7.114).

You have destroyed the dwellings of those who brought forth fruit, and have laid low the walls of those who did you no harm: Those who brought forth fruit may be rendered “productive [or, industrious] people.” Laid low the walls refers to tearing down the stone walls that fenced in a person’s land to protect it and keep his animals from straying.

Good News Bible provides a helpful model for this verse. Another possible one is:

• You have treated harmless people viciously, and hurt people who were living in peace. You have despised people who told the truth, and preferred liars. You have destroyed the homes of productive [or, industrious] people, and have torn down the walls that protected the property of people who had done you no harm.

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.