And so the entrances of this world were made narrow and sorrowful and toilsome …: There is a problem here and in verse 13. Following the logic of the examples of the sea and the city, we would expect the entrances of this world or age to be broad and the entrances of the coming world or age to be narrow (compare Matt 7.13-14). Several scholars have suggested that the word entrances is not the original intent of the author, but that the word “ways” is meant. The ways of this world are difficult while the ways of the coming world are easy. Box (page 580) so translates, on the authority of the Ethiopic text. Oesterley (page 65) agrees, adding the textual authority of one Arabic manuscript. Myers (page 206) also agrees and so translates, suggesting that the problem arose in the Greek version (no longer available) when the word for “ways” was confused with the word for “entrances.” The two words are rather similar in Greek. Stone (page 198) entertains this idea, but further suggests that the trouble could have arisen from a mistranslation into Greek of a rabbinic Hebrew word that can mean either “way” or “entrance.” Stone himself, however, does not emend the text, and translates “entrances.” This is a difficult decision. Textually, we seem bound to accept “entrances,” but this leaves us with an author who has lost his train of thought and a confused reader. But on the assumption that the writer interpreted his own examples correctly and with a desire to help the reader, we accept the emendation. We are not completely comfortable with this; it is simply that the other option leaves us less comfortable. Translators who wish may certainly use “entrances” here, but in our model below we use “ways.” This world refers to the present age. Were made may be rendered “God made.”

They are few and evil may be translated “There are not many of them, and all of them are evil [or, bad].”

Full of dangers and involved in great hardships may be expressed as “dangerous and hard to travel.”

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• That is why God made the ways* of this world narrow, sorrowful, and difficult. There are not many of them, and all of them are bad, dangerous, and hard to travel [or, strenuous].
* One ancient translation ways; Latin entrances.

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.