The dumb and lifeless water produced living creatures: Here living creatures includes birds and fish. In the Latin text of this clause there is an obvious contrast between the phrase for lifeless (sine anima) and the word for living creatures (animalia), which can be made obvious in translation if we refer to the literal meaning of anima, which is “breath.” A model that does this is “The water, which had no voice and no breath, brought forth breathing creatures.”

As it was commanded may be rendered “just as you commanded.”

That therefore the nations might declare thy wondrous works may be translated “so that the people of all the nations might say, ‘The things you have created are wonderful!’ ”

Revised Standard Version‘s footnote on this verse may be ignored. Here is a possible model:

• The water, which had no voice and no breath, produced breathing creatures, just as you commanded, so that all the nations might praise you for your wonderful works.

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.