As I was speaking these words, behold, the angel who had come to me at first came to me: The word behold introduces the next thing Ezra saw in his vision. Here it may be rendered “I saw.” The angel who had come to me at first refers to Uriel (see 2 Esd 4.1), which Good News Bible makes clear by saying “the angel Uriel.” This sentence may be translated “While I was speaking, I saw the angel Uriel appear to me again.”

And he looked upon me, and behold, I lay there like a corpse and I was deprived of my understanding: When Uriel looked at Ezra, Ezra fainted. According to Good News Bible, Ezra had fainted before Uriel looked at him, but this is incorrect. The word behold introduces the surprising idea of Ezra fainting. Here it may be rendered “he saw” or “suddenly.” I lay like a corpse may be translated “I lay there like I was dead” (similarly Contemporary English Version) or “I lay on the ground like a dead man [or, person].” I was deprived of my understanding means Ezra had fainted; he lay unconscious, unable to move (compare 2 Esd 5.14). We may render this whole sentence as “When he looked at me, I suddenly fainted and lay on the ground like a dead man.”

Then he grasped my right hand and strengthened me and set me on my feet: Compare Ezek 2.1-2. This sentence may be expressed as “So he grabbed my right hand, gave me strength, and helped me to stand up” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

And said to me: Uriel asks several questions in the next verse, so the verb said is better rendered “asked” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version).

Here is an alternative model for these two verses:

• 29 I was still speaking when the angel Uriel who had come to me before appeared again. When he looked at me, 30 I suddenly fainted and lay on the ground like a dead man. Then he took my right hand and my strength returned. He helped me to my feet, and asked….

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.