So also will be the judgment which I have promised …: This verse makes the connection between Ezra’s concern for the many who will not be saved and the illustration about the minerals. The first person pronouns in this verse (I and my) refer to God even though the angel Uriel is the speaker. Once again the writer makes no distinction between God and the angel who delivers God’s message. Instead of judgment, the Latin text has “creation” (see the footnotes in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible). We prefer the reading in the Revised Standard Version text. In Greek the words for judgment and “creation” look very much alike, and the Latin translator may have confused them. The first clause of this verse may be rendered “The judgment that I have promised will be like this” or “That’s how it is with the final judgment I have planned” (Contemporary English Version).

For I will rejoice over the few who shall be saved may be translated “I will be pleased with the few people whom I will save.”

Because it is they who have made my glory to prevail now, and through them my name has now been honored: These two clauses are parallel in meaning. Here my glory is roughly equivalent to my name. God praises the faithful for honoring him in such a way that others see him as worthy of worship and support.

Here are alternative models for this verse:

• That is why, after the judgment* that I have promised, I will take joy in the few who are saved, because they give me praise and honor now [or, in this age].
* Some ancient translations judgment; Latin creation.

• The judgment* that I have promised will be like this. The few people whom I will save will cause me to be very joyful, because they give….
* Some ancient translations judgment; Latin creation.

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.