And I will not grieve over the multitude of those who perish may be rendered “I will not mourn for all those people [or, those crowds of people] who will die.”

For it is they who are now like a mist may be translated “Even now they last no longer than mist.”

And are similar to a flame and smoke—they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are extinguished: Mist, flame, and smoke are all impermanent. Like the ungodly, they are very evident while they exist, but they pass from existence quickly. Contemporary English Version has a good model for this part of the verse, saying “and they disappear as quickly as smoke or a flame that blazes up, and then goes out.”

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• I am not going to grieve over all those people who will die. Even now they last no longer [or, have no more substance] than mist. Like flame or smoke, they catch fire, blaze up, and quickly go out.”

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.