The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned: The Revised Standard Version footnote mentions that for worse the Latin has “greater,” but it offers a perfectly normal translational approach, which in our judgment calls for no footnote.

Because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be consumed with shame: Instead of consumed with shame, the Latin text has “consumed with honors,” which is clearly wrong. Shame is widely accepted as the most likely text. Good News Bible renders these two clauses as “they are sick with remorse and shame,” or we may say “they feel such remorse and shame that they become sick.”

And shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they sinned while they were alive, and before whom they are to be judged in the last times: See the comments on verse 78. Wither with fear may be translated “tremble in fear” (Contemporary English Version).

Good News Bible does an excellent job with this verse, and we can offer nothing better to serve as a model.

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.