When have the inhabitants of the earth not sinned in thy sight?: With this rhetorical question Ezra claims that humans have always sinned against God. We may say “Has there every been a time when human beings have not sinned against you?”

Or what nation has kept thy commandments so well?: With this rhetorical question Ezra claims that even though every nation is sinful, none has been as careful to keep God’s commandments as Israel.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Has there ever been a time when human beings have not sinned against you? Has any nation ever kept your commandments as faithfully as we have?

Contemporary English Version puts the rhetorical questions into statements as follows:

• It’s true that people have always sinned against you, but Israel has been more loyal to your Law than any other nation on earth.

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.