Then we all put out the lamps: Good News Bible expands lamps to “wedding lamps,” which is unnecessary but perhaps helpful. Contemporary English Version says “oil lamps,” which is helpful. Such a lamp produced light by burning a wick saturated with oil contained in a relatively small vessel.

And all my neighbors attempted to console me may be rendered “and all my neighbors tried to comfort me.” For Revised Standard Version‘s footnote here, see the comments on 2 Esd 9.45.

And I remained quiet until evening of the second day: I remained quiet may be translated “I remained in control of myself” (Good News Bible) or “I controlled my sadness” (Contemporary English Version). Evening of the second day may be expressed as “the evening of the next day” or even “the next evening” (Contemporary English Version).

Good News Bible joins this verse closely with the next one, which other languages may find helpful. Another possible model is:

• So we extinguished the oil lamps, and all my neighbors tried to comfort me. I was able to control my sadness until the next evening.

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.