Who has put springs of water in the desert, and pools on the tops of the mountains, to send rivers from the heights to water the earth: Compare Psa 107.35; Isa 41.18. Once again the word who introduces a statement, not a question. Pools is better rendered “lakes” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version), which can be found high up in mountainous regions. Good News Bible provides an excellent model for this verse, and so does Contemporary English Version, which says:

• He made springs of water in the dry desert and lakes at the tops of mountains, so that they could run down to form rivers and to water the ground.

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.