For if he did not make them abound, the world with those who inhabit it would not have life: Compare Sir 18.13. The connector For may be omitted (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). The pronoun them refers to “his compassions” in the previous verse. Contemporary English Version provides the following helpful model for this verse:

• If he did not forgive sins, everyone in the entire world would die.

Another possible one is:

• If he were not like this, life would not [even] exist on earth.

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.