Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 11:40 - 11:41

You, the fourth that has come, have conquered all the beasts that have gone before: Rome conquered all rivals and overcame all challenges to its power.

And you have held sway over the world with much terror, and over all the earth with grievous oppression; and for so long you have dwelt on the earth with deceit: You have held sway and you have dwelt may be combined by saying “During your entire rule” (Contemporary English Version) or even “During the entire time that you have ruled.” Terror may be translated “great fear.” Grievous oppression may be expressed as “with great cruelty.” It is possible to consider the problem raised in Revised Standard Version‘s textual footnote on verse 40 as a translational problem, and this is how we will deal with it, so no footnote is necessary. This verse may be rendered as follows:

• You are the fourth beast [or, animal] that has come. And you have conquered all the animals that came before you. All the time that you ruled, you caused people to be terribly afraid [or, to have great fear]. You oppressed them cruelly, and treated them deceitfully.

And you have judged the earth may be rendered “You have imposed your law on the world” or “You have forced the people of the world to obey your law.”

But not with truth may be translated “but not justly [or, fairly].”

Good News Bible may serve as a model for verses 40-41, but another possible one is:

• 40 Yes, you are the fourth animal to come, and you have conquered all those that came before you. You have used terror to establish your power. You have oppressed the people [you ruled] cruelly, and treated them deceitfully as long as you have been in power. 41 You have imposed your law on the world [or, You have forced the world to obey your law], but it was not a fair [or, just] law.

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.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 12:31

And as for the lion whom you saw rousing up out of the forest and roaring and speaking to the eagle and reproving him for his unrighteousness, and as for all his words that you heard: See 2 Esd 11.37. Uriel is still speaking to Ezra here. So in some languages it will be good to begin this subsection with the quote frame “Uriel continued” or “Uriel also said.” Rousing up out of the forest may be rendered “coming out of a forest [or, the bush].” Reproving may be translated “rebuking” or “condemning.” For his unrighteousness may be expressed as “for the evil things that he had done.” All his words that you heard refers to what the eagle said. Translators should study Good News Bible‘s model for this verse, but we also recommend the following one:

• “You saw a roaring lion coming from a forest, and you heard it speak to the eagle and condemn it for all the evil things it had done and for what it had said.

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.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 13:15

Now show me also the interpretation of this dream: This dream was among the wonders Ezra had been shown, so it is appropriate to say “this last dream.” We may render this verse as follows:

• So please tell me also what this last dream [or, this dream that I have just had] means.

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.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 13:53 - 13:54

This is the interpretation of the dream which you saw may be rendered “That’s what your dream means” (similarly Contemporary English Version). Compare 2 Esd 12.35.

And you alone have been enlightened about this may be translated “You alone have been given this information” (Good News Bible), “and only you have been told these things” (Contemporary English Version), or “I have only told you about these things.” Compare 2 Esd 8.62; 12.36.

Because you have forsaken your own ways may be expressed as “because you have given up your own interests [or, concerns].”

And have applied yourself to mine may be rendered “and have devoted yourself to my interests.”

And have searched out my law may be translated “and have studied my Law.” The pronouns my and mine refer to God. Since Contemporary English Version views the angel Uriel as the speaker here, it renders my law as “God’s Law,” which other languages may find helpful (see the comments on verse 52).

Good News Bible provides a good model for verses 53-54. Another possible one is:

• 53 That is the meaning of your dream. I have only given you this information, 54 because you have given up your own concerns to devote yourself to me by studying my Law.

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.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 14:34

If you, then, will rule over your minds and discipline your hearts: The conjunction then may be rendered “So” or “But” (Good News Bible). The phrases rule over your minds (Contemporary English Version “Control your thoughts”) and discipline your hearts (literally “instruct your hearts” [compare Psa 16.7]) mean substantially the same thing, so the first half of this verse may be rendered “But if you learn to control your thoughts.”

You shall be kept alive, and after death you shall obtain mercy may be translated “God will protect you now, and when you die, he will be merciful to you [or, show you mercy].”

Good News Bible may serve as a model for this verse, but we prefer not to join this verse to the next one, as Good News Bible does.

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.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 15:25

I will not spare them: This clause may be rendered “I will have no mercy on them!” (Good News Bible; similarly Contemporary English Version) or “I will certainly punish them.”

Depart, you faithless children!: Faithless children refers to Jews who have not kept God’s Law. Good News Bible and New English Bible translate this phrase as “rebels,” and Contemporary English Version says “worthless rebels.” Both are acceptable models.

Do not pollute my sanctuary: The Latin word for sanctuary is literally “sanctification” (see the comments on 2 Esd 10.21). Here it may refer to God’s sanctified community (holy people), his people who have been set apart as his own.

Here are two possible models for this verse:

• I will not spare them! Away from me, you faithless rebels! I don’t want you contaminating my holy people!”

• I will certainly punish them! Get away from me, all you worthless rebels! I don’t want you contaminating those people who are truly mine.”

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.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 15:63

They shall carry your children away captive, and shall plunder your wealth: Contemporary English Version combines these two clauses, saying “This cruel army will carry away your children and your wealth.”

And abolish the glory of your countenance: The Latin word for countenance is literally “face,” and there may be an ironic reference here back to verse 54, although a different Latin noun is used there. This clause may be rendered “your face will not be so pretty anymore.” Good News Bible uses a nonfigurative expression, saying “Your splendor will vanish.”

Here is a model for this verse:

• They will take your children away as captives, they will plunder your wealth [or, forcibly take all your possessions], and your face will not be so pretty anymore!”

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.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 16:35

Listen now to these things, and understand them, O servants of the Lord: Here Ezra addresses God’s people directly. These things refers to what he is about to say. We suggest putting the phrase O servants of the Lord at the beginning of this verse as follows:

• You servants of the Lord, listen to these things [or, my message]! Listen, and take them to heart [or, pay attention]!

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.