And before the present years were reckoned refers to time beginning. Just as God created things in space, he brought time into being. This clause may be rendered “just before time began” or “just before I created time.”

And before the imaginations of those who now sin were estranged refers to before God turned away from or rejected those who would sin (since he knew beforehand who would). The imaginations of those who now sin refers to “the evil plans of sinners” (Contemporary English Version). This clause may be translated “before I rejected the scheming of sinners” or “before I set myself against [or, rejected] the evil plans of those who would sin.”

And before those who stored up treasures of faith were sealed: Those who stored up treasures of faith are the opposite of the sinners above. They are people whose wealth was counted in terms of faithfulness to God. The figurative expression who stored up treasures of faith may be rendered “who would be faithful to me like storing up treasure.” Were sealed means they were marked as belonging to God (compare Isa 44.5; Ezek 9.4; Rev 7.4). God could mark them as his own before creation since he knew beforehand who would be faithful. Good News Bible provides a helpful model for this clause. For those languages that do not have the passive voice, another possibility is “before I claimed as my own those people who would continually worship me.”

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.