If you, then, will rule over your minds and discipline your hearts: The conjunction then may be rendered “So” or “But” (Good News Bible). The phrases rule over your minds (Contemporary English Version “Control your thoughts”) and discipline your hearts (literally “instruct your hearts” [compare Psa 16.7]) mean substantially the same thing, so the first half of this verse may be rendered “But if you learn to control your thoughts.”

You shall be kept alive, and after death you shall obtain mercy may be translated “God will protect you now, and when you die, he will be merciful to you [or, show you mercy].”

Good News Bible may serve as a model for this verse, but we prefer not to join this verse to the next one, as Good News Bible does.

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.