Not only human beings, but the whole world of nature stands in awe and fear before their Lord. Compare 2 Sam 22.8, 16; Ezek 38.20.

The earth and its foundations quake means the earth shakes, that is, there are earthquakes (see the comments on 2 Esd 6.15).

The sea is churned up from the depths, and its waves and the fish also shall be troubled at the presence of the Lord and before the glory of his power: Waves result when the sea is churned up from the depths, so the idea of waves may be left implied (so Good News Bible). Good News Bible has “creatures in the sea” instead of fish, but the Latin word here means simply “fish.” The glory of his power refers to God’s awesome power.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• The earth and its foundations shake, the sea is churned up in its deepest parts, and even the fish are troubled when they all see the Lord’s glorious power.

• When the Lord shows himself in all his tremendous power, the earth shakes to its foundations, and the sea is stirred up in its deepest parts, where even the fish are frightened.

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.