Then the tested quality of my elect shall be manifest, as gold that is tested by fire: Compare Isa 48.10; Zech 13.9; 1 Peter 1.7. For my elect, see the comments on 2 Esd 15.21. Here the pronoun my refers to God, but God has been referred to in the third person in the previous verses of this section, so some translators may prefer to say “the Lord’s elect” or “the Lord’s chosen people.” Good News Bible offers a helpful model for this verse. Other possible ones are:

• Then my chosen people will show that they are faithful to me by surviving these tortures, just as gold is purified with fire.

• Then just as fire purifies gold, my [or, the Lord’s] people will show their faithfulness by surviving these tortures.

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.