Behold, provisions will be so cheap upon earth that men will imagine that peace is assured for them: Once again the word Behold highlights the message that follows (see 2 Esd 6.18). The Latin word for provisions may be rendered “food” (Good News Bible) or “food and supplies” (Contemporary English Version). Cheap may be translated “plentiful.” In this context the word men includes men and women, so it is better rendered “people” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). Peace is assured for them may be expressed as “peace is coming for sure.”

And then the calamities shall spring up on the earth may be translated “But suddenly disasters will spring up [or, strike/happen] everywhere.”

The sword, famine, and great confusion will be the disasters. Once again the word sword is an image for “war” (Contemporary English Version; see the comments on 1 Esd 1.53). Great confusion means the people will be very confused when there are wars and famines. People tend to think of times of plenty as permanent, but that only makes the shock worse when things begin to go wrong.

Some translators will find Good News Bible‘s model for this verse helpful. We also suggest the following one:

• The time is coming when food will be so plentiful on the earth that people will think that peace is coming for sure. But then disasters such as war and starvation will happen everywhere, causing people to be very confused.

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.