And I told him many wondrous things, and showed him the secrets of the times and declared to him the end of the times: Verses 5-6 refer to the time Moses was on Mount Sinai with God. In ancient times there were Jewish traditions that God revealed some secret knowledge to Moses at that time, in addition to giving the Law. That tradition is reflected here. Wondrous things may be rendered “amazing things” (Contemporary English Version). The secrets of the times may be rendered “the secrets about the ages” (Good News Bible) or “the secret knowledge about the ages of the world.” For declared to him the end of the times, compare 2 Esd 3.14, where Ezra says “the end of the times” were revealed to Abraham. Compare also 2 Esd 12.9, with reference to Ezra. Revised Standard Version‘s footnote here is unnecessary since it deals with a translational matter.

Then I commanded him, saying, ‘These words you shall publish openly, and these you shall keep secret’: The words to be made public (publish openly) are apparently the books of the Hebrew Bible (see verse 45). They are to be made available for everyone. The words not to be made public (keep secret) are the apocalyptic writings (see verse 46). Good News Bible uses indirect speech for the embedded quote here, which other languages may find helpful.

Alternative models for verses 5-6 are:

• 5 I told him many marvelous things, and gave him secret knowledge about the ages of the world, and how history will come to an end. Then I told him 6 to make certain things available to everybody, and to keep other things secret.

• … Then I said to him, 6 ‘You must let everyone know about certain things, and keep other things secret.’

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.