Open for me the closed chambers, and bring forth for me the winds shut up in them: The Israelites thought the winds were kept in rooms somewhere in the sky until God opened the doors of the rooms and let them out (see Job 37.9; compare Rev 7.1). These two clauses may be rendered “Open the rooms where the winds are locked up, and let them blow for me” (similarly Good News Bible).

Or show me the picture of a voice: The Latin word for voice can refer to any sound, like the sound of hands clapping. Good News Bible says “show me the picture of a sound.” Doing this is obviously impossible.

And then I will explain to you the travail that you ask to understand: The travail refers to “the sufferings of the people of Israel” (Good News Bible).

Good News Bible provides a helpful model for this verse.

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.