And behold: See the comments on verse 31. Some translators will be able to use an introductory expression here, such as “So look!” or “So pay attention.” But many other translators may omit this expression entirely.

It is the rule that, when the ground has received seed, or the sea a ship, or any dish food or drink, and when it happens that what was sown or what was launched or what was put in is destroyed: It is the rule that may be rendered “The usual thing is that” (Good News Bible) or “Usually” (Contemporary English Version). The verb phrase is destroyed may be placed near the beginning of this sentence by saying “Usually, when seed is put in the ground, and destroyed, the ground is not destroyed. When a ship goes to sea and sinks, the sea is not destroyed. When food is put in a dish, but the food goes bad, the dish is not destroyed.”

They are destroyed, but the things that held them remain may be translated “All these things are destroyed, but the ground, the ocean, and the dish are not destroyed” or simply “That is the rule of nature.”

Yet with us it has not been so may be expressed as “However, in our case this rule has not applied” or “but in our case you did not apply this rule.”

An alternative model for these two verses is:

• 34 When seed is put in the ground, but dies, the ground is not destroyed. When a ship goes to sea and sinks, the sea is not destroyed. When food is put in a dish, but the food goes bad, the dish is not destroyed. 35 That is the rule of nature, but in our case, this rule has not applied.

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.