But now why are you disturbed, seeing that you are to perish? And why are you moved, seeing that you are mortal?: Both these questions are rhetorical. They have the same meaning, so Good News Bible combines them into one question (so also Contemporary English Version, New English Bible). As Good News Bible‘s footnote indicates, this verse can be translated in a way other than the way Good News Bible has chosen. However, it is hard to make sense of that other approach, so we suggest that translators follow Good News Bible without a footnote. Good News Bible inserts the name “Ezra,” which other languages may find helpful. A model that uses a strong statement instead of rhetorical questions for this verse is:

• So you should not be so upset and worried that you will die some day.

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.