Shecaniah addresses a series of three imperatives to Ezra: Arise … be strong, and do it. Together these three verbs give a sense of urgency. The three commands may be expressed as “Get up … take courage, and act.” Contemporary English Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and other versions use exclamation marks to indicate emphasis in the speaker’s voice.

Arise is not necessarily saying that Ezra should literally rise up (see the comments on “rose up” at Ezra 1.5). Perhaps it is urging him to “take action” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). New Jerusalem Bible says “Go ahead.”

It is your task: Shecaniah addresses Ezra in the second person singular. He challenges Ezra as their leader that this matter concerns him. It is his responsibility to do something (so Good News Translation). New International Version renders it “this matter is in your hands.”

We are with you: We refers to the people Shecaniah spoke of in verse 3. The pronoun carries the meaning of a first person plural exclusive pronoun, because the speaker is referring to himself and the other people as he speaks to Ezra. Shecaniah says that he and these people will support Ezra (so New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant). Some languages will express this idiomatically: “we are behind you” or “we will stand with you.”

Be strong, and do it: As noted above, this may be expressed “take courage and act!” New Jerusalem Bible says “Be brave, take action!” In the words of bcc it is “Be strong and get to work!” Appropriate natural expressions should be used in the receptor language for the exhortations here; for example, “Take your courage in your hands and do something!”

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .