Let all things prescribed in the law of God be scrupulously fulfilled for the Most High God, so that wrath may not come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons: Here King Artaxerxes of Persia wants to ensure the goodwill of Israel’s God, fearing that wrath, that is, God’s anger, might come on his kingdom if he does not—if not during Artaxerxes’ lifetime, then later. Let all things prescribed in the law of God be scrupulously fulfilled may be rendered “Let everything that God commands in his Law be carefully carried out.” In languages that do not have the passive voice translators may say “I want them to carefully carry out [or, follow] everything that God’s Law commands.” His sons does not refer only to Artaxerxes’ sons, but to any of his male descendants who become kings of Persia after him. Since Artaxerxes is the speaker here, Good News Bible renders upon the kingdom of the king and his sons as “with me or with those who reign after me,” which other languages may find helpful.

Here are possible models for this verse:

• I want everything that is commanded in God’s Law to be carefully carried out. I do not want the Most High God to punish my kingdom because he is angry with me or any of my descendants who reign after me.

• I want them to carefully carry out [or, follow] everything that God’s Law commands. I do not want….

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.