Do not be quick to think vain thoughts concerning the former times, lest you be hasty concerning the last times: Perhaps the meaning here is that Ezra is so far from being able to understand the age he lives in that he should not even presume to understand the future age (compare 2 Esd 4.34). Vain thoughts may mean “incorrect thoughts” or “useless questions” (Good News Bible). The former times refers to the present time, and the last times is the age to come. Here are possible models for this verse:

• Don’t waste your time raising incorrect questions about the age you now live in, and you won’t be so quick to do so in the age to come.’ ”

• Any thoughts you have about the age you live in are not going to be correct [or, well thought out], so don’t even think you can fully understand the age to come.’ ”

We have no great confidence in these models, and translators should feel free to try another approach. The meaning of this verse is unclear. No commentator can make a convincing argument, and few pretend to do so.

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.