For thou alone dost exist, and we are a work of thy hands, as thou hast declared: See 2 Esd 3.5; Gen 2.7; Job 10.8; Isa 43.7. This is a statement that there is only one God, and human beings are the creation of that God. It is not clear what is meant by the clause as thou hast declared. Isa 43.7 comes close to saying this, but more likely Ezra is referring to the general teaching of Scripture. Compare Good News Bible, which has “as the scripture says.” Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• There is no other God but you, and as the Scripture says, it is you who created human beings.

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.