Then I said, “Yes, my lord”: For my lord as a respectful address to an angel, see the comments on 2 Esd 2.44.

And he replied to me is literally “And he replied to me and said.” Revised Standard Version omits “and said” for naturalness in English (see the comments on the previous two verses).

I have been sent to show you three ways, and to put before you three problems: Ezra thinks he can understand God’s “way” (verse 2), so the angel will prove to him that he does not understand the ways of this world. The same Latin word for “way” and ways is used, and translators should try to make this connection if possible. If it strains the translation, however, the meaning can be expressed easily without representing this particular keyword. I have been sent may be rendered “God has sent me.” To show you three ways and to put before you three problems are parallel expressions that point to the same idea, so Good News Bible combines them by saying “to ask you to solve three riddles about what happens in this world.” The Latin word for problems is literally “similitudes” (King James Version), that is, “illustrations” (New English Bible). Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible give it a sense that fits the context better.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• I said, “Yes, sir, I do [or, Sir, I can understand].”
He answered, “I have been sent [or, God has sent me] to put three problems to you about the ways of this world [or, about how this world works].

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.