And glorified the temple of our Lord may be rendered “They gave honor to your Temple again.” The Persians did this by allowing the Temple to be rebuilt (see 1 Esd 2.1-7; 6.24-26).

And raised Zion from desolation: Zion is another name for the city of Jerusalem since part of it stood on Mount Zion. It became an uninhabited ruins (desolation) when the Babylonians conquered it, but the Persians allowed it to be rebuilt (see Neh 2.7-8).

To give us a stronghold in Judea and Jerusalem: The word stronghold refers to Jerusalem as a fortress city strong enough to withstand an enemy attack, and where the Jews can live safely. The Hebrew name Zion may mean “fortress” or “citadel.”

Good News Bible provides a good model for verses 80-81.

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.

Where are the benefits which I bestowed on you?: The benefits are the good things God gave to his people (see verse 9). This question does not ask the location of these benefits, but rather asks “Can you give me any indication that you remember and appreciate the benefits I gave you?” It is a rhetorical question, so it does not expect an answer. It may be expressed as a strong statement by saying “You have forgotten all the ways I protected and supported you.”

When you were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness: The wilderness refers to the Sinai Wilderness. This wilderness was located in today’s Sinai Peninsula to the northeast of Egypt and south of Palestine. This wilderness was for the most part not a desert; rather, it was a remote, rather dry area, with few human inhabitants. It has some trees and other vegetation (see verse 20). (Nomads with flocks could inhabit the region, as Moses did when he first fled from Egypt [see Exo 2.15-17].) The target language term chosen should not suggest a “desert” (Good News Bible) of sand with dunes and little else.

Did you not cry out to me: This quote frame introduces what the Israelites said to God in verse 18. It is another rhetorical question, so it may be rendered as a statement by saying “you cried out to me [for help].”

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• Have you forgotten all the ways I protected and supported you? When you were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, you cried out to me to help you.

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.

Moreover, I will take back to myself their glory: The Latin connector for Moreover may be translated “also” (Contemporary English Version). I will take back to myself their glory means God will remove his glorious presence from Israel (compare Ezek 10.4). The word glory refers to God’s splendor or magnificence. Good News Bible renders glory as “the dazzling light of my presence,” and Contemporary English Version has “my shining glory.” This clause may be rendered “I will also stop my glory from shining on the people of Israel” or “In addition, my glory [or, the dazzling light of my presence] will no longer shine on Israel.”

And will give to these others the everlasting habitations: These others refers to God’s new people (that is, Christians). The everlasting habitations does not refer to the Temple (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version), but to heaven, the dwelling place of God. The same phrase is used in Luke 16.9 (compare Eccl 12.5).

Which I had prepared for Israel is literally “which I had prepared for those” (see Revised Standard Version footnote). Revised Standard Version renders the pronoun “those” as Israel for clarity. God had prepared heaven as home for the Israelites, but now he is giving it to his new people.

New English Bible has a good translation for this verse, saying “I will withdraw the splendour of my presence from Israel, and the home that was to be theirs for ever I will give to my own people.” Here are other possible models:

• I will also stop my glory [or, the dazzling light of my presence] from shining on the people of Israel. And I will also give to these other people the eternal home [or, heaven] that I had prepared for the people of Israel.

• In addition, my glory [or, the dazzling light of my presence] will no longer shine on Israel, and I will give to these others the eternal home that I had prepared for Israel.

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.

He answered and said to me: In most languages this quote frame may be rendered simply “He answered” or “The angel answered” (Contemporary English Version).

These are they who have put off mortal clothing refers to leaving their mortal bodies, namely dying. We may remove the imagery here by saying “These are people who were once mortal” or “They are the ones who have died” (Contemporary English Version).

And have put on the immortal: The imagery of clothing is implied here from the previous clause. For putting on immortal clothing, compare 1 Cor 15.53-54. Again Contemporary English Version abandons the figurative language, saying “and have been given everlasting life.” Another possible model is “and God has given them eternal life.”

And they have confessed the name of God refers to faithfulness to God. The author probably has martyrs in mind. We may say “They have been completely faithful [or, loyal] to God” or “They have obeyed God faithfully [or, completely].”

Now they are being crowned may be translated “Now someone is putting crowns on their heads.” See verse 43.

And receive palms: Palms are leaves (actually fronds) of date palm trees. They were also symbols of victory, which Good News Bible makes clear.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• He answered, “These are people who once were mortal, but who are now immortal. They have been completely faithful to God, and now they are being given crowns and palm leaves as rewards for their victory.”

• The angel answered, “These are people who have died, but will now live forever. They have obeyed God faithfully. So now someone is giving them crowns and palm leaves as rewards for their victory.”

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.

Or has another nation known thee besides Israel?: With this rhetorical question Ezra asks if any other nation besides Israel has ever known God, that is, worshiped him as their God. Some languages may prefer a strong statement here; for example, Contemporary English Version says “Israel has been the only nation to worship you.”

Or what tribes have so believed thy covenants as these tribes of Jacob?: With this rhetorical question Ezra says the Jews may have been lax in observing God’s covenants, but surely no other people has done better. Israel and these tribes of Jacob refer to the same people, that is, the Jews (see the comments on verse 19). Israel consisted of twelve tribes. A tribe was the largest social unit in the nation. It was composed of several clans, which, in turn, were composed of several families For covenants see 2 Esd 2.5. A possible model that renders this question as a statement is “No other tribes have accepted the terms of your covenants like the tribes of Israel.”

It may be helpful to use the first person plural for the Jews since Ezra was one. A model of this verse that does this is:

• Has any other nation ever worshiped you like we Jews have? Has any people ever so accepted the terms of your covenants as we have?

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.

Consider now for yourself how much fruit of ungodliness a grain of evil seed has produced: Good News Bible has a good model here. An alternative model is:

• All that ungodliness has come from that one seed. Think about it!

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.

These are the signs which I am permitted to tell you: The demonstrative pronoun These refers to the end-time events mentioned in verses 1-12. For the signs, see the comments on 2 Esd 4.52. Here are possible renderings for this clause: “These are the signs of the end time which I am allowed to tell you about” and “That is all that God has allowed me to tell you about the signs of the end time.”

And if you pray again, and weep as you do now, and fast for seven days, you shall hear yet greater things than these: The instructions Uriel gives Ezra here will prepare him for his second vision in 2 Esd 5.21–6.34 (compare 2 Esd 6.31). Uriel says if you pray again, since Ezra’s first prayer was in chapter 3. For the idea of fast (that is, not eating food), see the comments on 1 Esd 8.50. Good News Bible renders and weep as you do now, and fast for seven days as “and continue to weep and fast for seven more days,” which is mistaken. Nothing has been said about Ezra weeping or fasting until this point. A better model for this whole verse is:

• These are the signs of the end time which I am allowed to tell you about. But if you pray again, weeping as you are now, and if you fast for seven days, you will hear about even greater things.”

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.