The voice of God, which began speaking in verse 18, stops at the end of this verse, so Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible close it with a double quote mark.

Faithfulness shall flourish: The Latin word for faithfulness can also mean “Faith” (Good News Bible). So this clause may be rendered “People will grow strong in their faith” or “People will believe strongly in God.”

And corruption shall be overcome: The Latin word for corruption does not refer only to political corruption, but to all the evil ways of this world. So this clause may be translated “and they will overcome the evil ways of the world.”

And the truth, which has been so long without fruit, shall be revealed: The truth has not borne fruit because people have suppressed it for a long time. This clause may be expressed as “and they will see [or, come to know] truth, which has not produced fruit for so long,” “and they will finally see truth, which has been hidden for so long,” or even “and they will see truth, which for so long has meant nothing to them.”

Here are alternative models for this verse:

• People will grow strong in their faith, and overcome the evil ways of this world. They will see [or, come to know] truth, which for so long has meant nothing.”

• People will believe strongly in God, and overcome the evil ways of this world. They will finally see truth, which has been hidden for so long.”

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.