The Lord will threaten, and who will not be utterly shattered at his presence?: This rhetorical question means people are overwhelmed with fear when he is near them. He threatens people by his presence. Both Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version understand the Latin expression for utterly shattered to mean “fall to one’s knees.” However, we feel its meaning is psychological. People feel “devastated” or “completely overwhelmed.” Alternative models for this verse are:

• No one can avoid being devastated when threatened by the presence of the Lord.

• No one can avoid being overwhelmed with fear when they are in the presence of the Lord [or, when the Lord shows himself].

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.