From thee is the victory …: Revised Standard Version uses archaic pronouns for God in this prayer (for example, thee and thine). It uses such language when characters speak directly to God. However, this archaic language should not be imitated in other languages since it reflects nothing in the Greek. New Revised Standard Version does not use it here. The victory does not necessarily refer to one particular victory, but to any victory. In this context, of course, Zerubbabel has just attained a victory in getting King Darius to send the Jews back home to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. This clause may be rendered “you are the source of all victory” (Good News Bible), “you are the one who gives victory” (Contemporary English Version), or even “You always help us to be victorious.”

From thee is wisdom: He has achieved this victory because of the wisdom he showed in his speech, wisdom that he now praises God for giving him.

And thine is the glory: Wisdom and victory come from God, but glory belongs to him, is part of his nature.

I am thy servant: Good News Bible begins this verse with “Lord” to express the idea in this clause, but it also has the phrase “your servant” at the end of verse 60. This is certainly possible, but we offer a slightly different model of this verse at the end of the discussion on verse 60.

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.