And now, O Lord, behold, these nations, which are reputed as nothing, domineer over us and devour us: Compare 2 Esd 3.28; 5.28-29. The conjunction And is better rendered “But” (Good News Bible), since it introduces an unexpected reality. The word behold puts focus on the words that follow. Good News Bible renders which are reputed as nothing as “that are considered as nothing,” but a better model is “that are supposed to be worthless.” Domineer over us may be translated “rule over us.” Some translators may be able to keep the figurative language devour us by saying “eat us up.” Good News Bible uses the nonfigurative expression “destroying us.” An alternative model for this verse is:

• But now, Lord, look how these nations that are supposed to be worthless rule over us and consume us!

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.