A man shall have no pity upon his neighbors: A man refers to people in general, so this clause may be rendered “People will have no pity on their neighbors [or, friends].”

But shall make an assault upon their houses with the sword means they will break into the houses of their neighbors and kill them.

And plunder their goods may be translated “and rob them of their possessions.”

Because of hunger for bread and because of great tribulation: Bread refers to food in general (see 2 Esd 14.42). Great tribulation refers to “terrible suffering” (Good News Bible). People will be so hungry and society will be so lawless and chaotic that people will rob their own neighbors to find food and anything else they want.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• People will be so hungry and so miserable that they will break into the houses of friends and kill them in order to get food and supplies.

• People will have no mercy on their neighbors [or, friends], but will break into their houses and kill them. Then they will take all their possessions. They will do this because they are so hungry and desperate.

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.