But alas for those who are left…!: For the word alas, see the comments on verse 16. This clause may be rendered “But how terrible also for those who do survive” (Good News Bible), “Yet those alive at that time are also in for trouble” (Contemporary English Version), or “But those who are left will also have to go through [or, encounter] great danger.”

And for that very reason is literally “because of this.” We take this phrase to refer to the following sentence, introducing the reason why it will be terrible for those who are alive at the end of time.

For they shall see great dangers and much distress, as these dreams show may be rendered “because they will have to suffer through great dangers and many troubles, just as you have shown me in these dreams.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• But these dreams of mine show that it will also be terrible for those who are left [at the end of time] since they will have to suffer through great dangers and many troubles.

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.