And after these years my son the Messiah shall die, and all who draw human breath: These years refers to the 400 years of the Messiah’s rule in verse 28. The death of the Messiah is unique to this book. All who draw human breath may be rendered “every person left alive” (Contemporary English Version) or simply “all human beings” (Good News Bible). Good News Bible provides a helpful model for this verse.

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.