Thus says the Lord: See the comments on 2 Esd 1.12. Here this quote frame introduces what the Lord continues to say to Ezra. Since the Lord is speaking here, this clause may be rendered “I, the Lord, also say.”

I brought this people out of bondage refers to God bringing the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt (see the comments on 2 Esd 1.7). This people refers to the Israelites, but the translator may need to make this clear at the beginning of a new subsection, since the last people spoken of were the new people, the Christians; for example, this phrase may be rendered “my people Israel” (Contemporary English Version) or “my people the Israelites.” The whole clause may be translated “I brought my people out of slavery [in Egypt]” or “I rescued my people Israel from Egypt where they were slaves” (Contemporary English Version).

And I gave them commandments through my servants the prophets may be expressed as “I had my servants the prophets give them my commandments [or, instructions about how to live].” For my servants the prophets, see 2 Esd 1.32.

But they would not listen to them means the Israelites ignored what the prophets said. The pronoun them refers to the prophets.

And made my counsels void means that the rebellious people treated God’s commands as nothing. It was as if he had never given them any commands at all.

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• “I, the Lord, [also] say this: I brought my people Israel out of slavery [in Egypt]. I had my servants the prophets give them instructions about how to live. But they would not listen to the prophets. My commands meant nothing to them.

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.