The reward of a harlot is in your bosom: For The reward of a harlot, compare Deut 23.18 and Micah 1.7. For the Latin word rendered bosom (sinus), see the comments on verse 22. In this context bosom does not have a physical reference, nor is it a metaphor for “heart.” Here bosom may be translated “purse,” so a possible model for this clause is “Your reward as a prostitute is in your purse.” The idea here is that Asia has accepted pay for her services as a prostitute. Good News Bible has “You will be paid for your work as a prostitute,” or we may say “You worked as a prostitute to earn the money you have.”

Therefore you shall receive your recompense: Because Asia has accepted pay for her services, she will also be paid with what she deserves, which is described in the next few verses.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• You worked as a prostitute to earn the money you have, but you are going to get what you really deserve for that.

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.