If then I have found favor before thee: See the comments on 2 Esd 4.44-45. Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version say simply “Please.”

Send the Holy Spirit into me: The Jewish author is not speaking of the Holy Spirit in the Christian sense, as a member of the Trinity, but simply in the Old Testament sense of God’s presence and in this case, inspiration (compare Psa 51.11; Wis 9.17). New Revised Standard Version makes this clear by not capitalizing Holy Spirit. Contemporary English Version has “your Spirit.”

And I will write everything that has happened in the world from the beginning, the things which were written in thy law: Ezra is asking God to inspire his words, so that he can reproduce the words of Scripture for future generations. From the beginning refers to the creation story in Genesis (compare 2 Esd 9.8; 10.14).

That men may be able to find the path is figurative expression that refers to people being able to discover God’s will. This clause may be rendered “so that people may be able to walk on your true path.”

And that those who wish to live in the last days may live: This clause does not mean that people choose when to be born and live at the end of time. It means that people may find eternal life at the end of time if they wish to do so.

We suggest the following model for this verse:

• If you think that I am worthy, send your spirit into me. I will write down everything that has happened in the world from the time of creation [or, since you created the world]. I will write down what was in your Law, so that people can find the right way to live, and so that those who are alive in the last days may, if they wish, have eternal life.

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.