But the plan of the forest was in vain, for the fire came and consumed it: The natural world has limitations built in. A forest can have only what is assigned to it. Good News Bible has a good model for this verse. Another possible one is:

• But the plan made by the trees was worthless, because a fire burned down all of 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.