When those who dwelt on earth began to multiply …: In this verse Ezra covers the generations between Noah and Abraham. Began to multiply may be rendered “became numerous again” or “began to grow in number again.”

They produced children and peoples and many nations: There appears to be a progression here. From Noah’s children people became numerous enough that there were peoples and eventually enough to be organized into nations.

And again they began to be more ungodly than were their ancestors: These people were more sinful than the people in Noah’s time had been.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• “But then people [or, humans] became numerous again. They had children, and before long there were whole peoples [or, tribes], and eventually many nations. But they were all sinful, too—worse than the people in Noah’s time had been [or, than their ancestors had been].

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.