For we had said to the king: The connector for (“because” in Good News Bible) introduces the reason why Ezra did not ask for an escort from the king. Some languages may prefer to omit this connector by rendering this quote frame as “We had told the king.” The pronoun we refers to Ezra and his group. Good News Bible changes this pronoun to “I” since Ezra was the spokesman for the group.

The power of our Lord will be with those who seek him, and will support them in every way: This quotation does not refer specifically to the Lord being with the exiles on their way back to Judah. Ezra is recalling that the powerful God of the Jews would give support to anyone who would seek him, that is, put their trust in him. Since this quotation is short, it is convenient to translate it as indirect speech (so Good News Bible). Translators who cannot do this or who find it awkward may of course use direct speech.

Here are possible models for this verse:

• We [or, I] had said to the king, ‘Our powerful Lord will be with all those people who trust in him. He will help them in every way.’

• We [Jews] had told the king that our mighty Lord would always be with those who put their trust in him. He would help them in every way.

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.

The Greek word rendered Behold places focus on what follows. Good News Bible omits it, but it should be kept. Behold may be translated “Look at us!” or simply “See!”

We are now before thee in our iniquities means that as the Jews stand before God they once again appear as sinners. This clause may be rendered “We stand before you as sinners” or simply “We are sinners.”

For we can no longer stand in thy presence because of these things means that they are unworthy to stand before God, to approach him, that is, to worship him, or ask anything of him. The conjunction for is better rendered “so” or “and” (Contemporary English Version). These things refers to their sins.

This verse ends Ezra’s prayer and his firsthand account, so single and double quotation marks should end it. We begin our model of this verse with the conjunction “But” in order to make it fit with the end of verse 88. The people have survived, yes, but still they are sinners:

• But look at us. We are sinners, and we are not worthy to approach [or, worship] 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.

So Ezra the chief priest brought the law, for all the multitude, men and women, and all the priests to hear the law, on the new moon of the seventh month: For Ezra the chief priest and the law, see verse 39; for all the multitude, see verse 38; and for on the new moon of the seventh month, see verse 37b. Good News Bible omits this final phrase, but it is used here for emphasis, so translators should keep it if possible. His reading of the Law on this day when all the people gathered together may have been in accordance with the regulation that every seventh year there was to be a proclamation of the Law during the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles (see Deut 31.10-13). An alternative model for this verse is:

• So Ezra the High Priest brought out the book of the Law, so that all the people, men and women alike, and all the priests, could hear it read [or, him read it to them]. This happened on the first day of the seventh month.

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.

Because you have forsaken me, I also will forsake you: Good News Bible has a good model here, and so does Contemporary English Version with “You have abandoned me; now I will abandon you.” These two clauses may also be reversed by saying “I will abandon you, because you have abandoned me.”

When you beg mercy of me, I will show you no mercy: Contemporary English Version says “I won’t have pity on you, not even when you beg for it.” We may also say “I will not have mercy on you even when you beg me for it.” Good News Bible also has a good model here.

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.

And the same number of springs flowing with milk and honey: The twelve springs probably represent the twelve apostles also. Springs flowing with milk and honey recalls the familiar Old Testament phrase “land flowing with milk and honey” (see, for example, Exo 3.8; Deut 31.20), which means the land was rich and fertile. However, this is the first time that milk and honey are spoken of as flowing out of springs, which is a rather strange picture, since springs are ordinarily sources of fresh water coming from the ground.

And seven mighty mountains on which roses and lilies grow: Since Rome was built on seven hills, it is possible that this is a promise that Rome will become God’s beautiful garden. 1 Enoch, an early Christian writing, at 18.6 and 24.2 speaks of seven mountains made of precious stones. Roses and lilies may represent the deeds of righteous people. That is the meaning given to flowers in the Greek version of 3 Baruch 12.1-6, a book probably from the second century A.D. In cultures where these flowers are unknown, translators may simply say “beautiful flowers.”

By these I will fill your children with joy: By these is literally “in which.” This phrase probably refers to the paradise where God will place the mother’s children. Good News Bible follows this interpretation by rendering this clause as “I will make your children very happy there.”

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• I have also made for you twelve springs [or, fountains] flowing with [or, out of which flow] milk and honey, and seven high mountains where roses and lilies grow. I will make your children happy in that place.

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.

And thou didst lay upon him one commandment of thine: Lay upon him may be rendered simply “gave him” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). The commandment was that Adam and Eve must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (see Gen 2.17).

But he transgressed it: The verb transgressed may be translated “disobeyed” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version).

And immediately may be expressed as “As soon as he did that [or, disobeyed].”

Thou didst appoint death for him and for his descendants: Although this is not the only way the Genesis account may be understood, the author follows the interpretation that God did not assign death for human beings until after Adam and Eve had disobeyed his command regarding the forbidden fruit. We may render this clause as “you decided that he and all of his descendants would eventually die.”

From him there sprang nations and tribes, peoples and clans, without number: The Latin words for nations, tribes, peoples, and clans have no distinct meanings here, so the translator need not struggle to find four different terms if it proves difficult. This sentence notes that all the peoples of the world descend from Adam, who sinned against God. We may say “Today peoples, nations, and tribes that cannot be numbered are Adam’s descendants” or “Today countless peoples, nations, and tribes are Adam’s descendants.”

Here is a model for the whole verse:

• You gave him one command, but he disobeyed it. As soon as he did, you decided that he and all his descendants would not live forever, but would some day die. Today countless peoples, nations, and tribes are Adam’s descendants.

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.

I said, “Speak on, my lord”: Here the translator must simply have Ezra reply to the angel in a natural way, agreeing to the angel’s proposal. Good News Bible has “ ‘I agree, sir,’ I said.” We may also say simply “I agreed.” For my lord, see 2Esdras 4.3.

And he said to me: Contemporary English Version has simply “Uriel said.”

Go, weigh for me the weight of fire, or measure for me a measure of wind, or call back for me the day that is past: The generic verb Go introduces three commands that the angel gives to Ezra. Good News Bible renders it “Good,” and Contemporary English Version says “All right.” These three commands are the “three ways” and “three problems” mentioned in verse 3. For the first two commands (weigh for me the weight of fire and measure for me a measure of wind), Good News Bible uses actual measures, “pound” and “bushel,” neither of which are used in the Latin text, but which work well in English here. However, for the second command the angel is more likely asking Ezra to measure the length of the wind (kilometers or miles) rather than how much room it takes up (bushels). It is possible to change these commands to questions as follows: “How do you weigh fire? How do you measure a puff of wind? How do you bring back yesterday” (similarly Contemporary English Version) or “Can you tell me how much a fire weighs? Can you tell me how long a wind is? Can you make yesterday return?” The Revised Standard Version footnote indicates there is a textual problem with the second command. Instead of a measure of wind, which is the reading in many ancient versions, the Latin text has “a blast of wind.” The difference in meaning between these two readings is not significant, so translators may follow either one, without adding a footnote.

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 me and said may be rendered simply “He replied” (Contemporary English Version) or “He answered” (see the comments on verses 1-2).

Go and ask a woman who is with child if, when her nine months have been completed, her womb can keep the child within her any longer: The phrase a woman who is with child refers to “a pregnant woman” (Good News Bible). Some languages say idiomatically “a woman with a stomach.” Here Uriel is not seriously suggesting that Ezra find a pregnant woman and ask her if she can delay the birth of her child after nine months. It is really a question addressed to Ezra himself, and Good News Bible well translates it so. Another possible model for this verse is:

• His answer was, “Can a pregnant woman keep her child from being born after she has carried it for nine months?”

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.