And as they pass … as they return from devastated Babylon: The pronoun they refers to the soldiers of the army that has conquered and demolished Babylon (see verses 43-44). These soldiers will march home after destroying Babylon. The first and last clause of this verse may be combined by beginning with “As the enemy soldiers are on their way home from destroying Babylon…” or “The army that wiped out Babylon will come back through your land…” (Contemporary English Version).

They shall wreck the hateful city: There is a textual problem here. The word hateful translates a different Latin text from that used by Good News Bible (“peaceful”). We prefer the text chosen by Good News Bible, but even then the Latin word for “peaceful” is ambiguous. It can mean “idle” (Revised Standard Version footnote), “useless,” “peaceful,” “calm,” or “vacant.” In this context we prefer the sense of “worthless” or “useless.”

And shall destroy a part of your land means the passing army will destroy more of Asia.

And abolish a portion of your glory may be translated “and do away with what is left of your power.”

We suggest the following model for this verse:

• As the soldiers are on their way home from destroying Babylon, they will wreck your own worthless [or, hateful/peaceful] city, destroy part of your land, and do away with what is left of your power.

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.