The beginning of sorrows, when there shall be much lamentation …: This verse has four incomplete sentences all starting with the phrase The beginning of…. Good News Bible changes these to complete sentences; for example, rendering the first one as “Troubles will come, and many people will groan.” Contemporary English Version has “Sorrows will begin, and there will be much crying.” Other possible models are “When the sorrows come, there will be much grief” and “When the sorrowful events happen, people everywhere will weep [or, wail].” The remaining incomplete sentences should be rendered the same way.

The beginning of famine, when many shall perish: Good News Bible says “Famine will come, and many will die,” and Contemporary English Version has “Famine will strike, and many people will die.”

The beginning of wars, when the powers shall be terrified: Good News Bible says “Wars will come, and the world powers will tremble,” and Contemporary English Version has “Wars will break out, and powerful armies will be terrified.” The word powers can refer to nations or their armies.

The beginning of calamities, when all shall tremble: Good News Bible says “Disasters will come, and everyone will be terrified,” and Contemporary English Version has “Disasters will come, and everyone will tremble with fear.”

What shall they do in these circumstances, when the calamities come?: Good News Bible renders this question as “What will people do when these disasters come?” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Alternative models for this verse are:

• When the sorrows come, there will be much grief. When the famine comes, many people will die. When the wars begin, nations will be terrified. When the disasters begin, everyone will shake with fear. What else can people do, in the face of all this?

• When the sorrowful events happen [or, begin], people everywhere will weep [or, wail]. When the famine comes, many people will die. When the wars begin [or, people everywhere start fighting each other], the nations of the world will be terrified….

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.