For the word Behold, which highlights the following message from God, see the comments on 2 Esd 6.18.

Says God: This quote frame reminds the reader that God is still the speaker here. See the comments on verses 5 and 7-8, where the similar quote frame “says the Lord” occurs.

I call together all the kings of the earth to fear me, from the rising sun and from the south, from the east and from Lebanon: There is a textual problem with the phrase to fear me. Other Latin manuscripts read “to come to me” or “to move/turn.” Good News Bible seems to accept the reading “to come to me,” which we recommend. There are also textual problems with the phrase from the rising sun and from the south, from the east and from Lebanon. Picking and choosing from individual Latin manuscripts, we prefer “from north to south, from east to west” (similarly Good News Bible), which is surely what the passage means.

To turn and repay what they have given them: Here the verb turn means to change or reverse policy. The sense of the Latin clause rendered repay what they have given them is unclear. It probably means “repay what they have forced other people or kingdoms to let them have.” Good News Bible says “restore what they have taken,” which is acceptable.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• “I, God, call on all the rulers of the earth from north, south, east, and west* to come to me,** to change their policies and restore what they have forced other people to give them.
* From north, south, east, and west: The Latin text of this phrase is not clear.
** To come to me: The Latin text of this phrase is not clear.

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.