Gird yourselves with sackcloth and haircloth: Gird yourselves with may be rendered simply “Put on” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). Sackcloth was a coarse cloth used for making sacks. Haircloth was also a coarse cloth made from goat’s hair. Putting on such clothing made of coarse material was a sign of mourning.

And wail for your children, and lament for them: The Latin verbs for wail and lament are very similar in meaning. Both are used for emphasis. Many translators will be able to find two words for mourning. Good News Bible has “Cry” and “wail,” while Contemporary English Version uses “Cry” and “mourn.”

For your destruction is at hand: This clause explains why the people of the four nations should mourn. It is because God will destroy them soon.

Good News Bible provides a helpful model for this verse, and so does Contemporary English Version, which says:

• Put on sackcloth and cloth made of goat’s hair to show your sorrow. Cry and mourn for your children, for the time of your destruction is already here.

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.