Now therefore may be rendered “Now then” or simply “So” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version).

Set your house in order: In modern English when a person prepares to die, and does everything he can do to make things easier for his survivors, he is said to “put his affairs in order.” This is what the figurative expression set your house in order means, except that Ezra is not going to die, but go directly into heaven. An alternative model for this clause is “get ready to leave this world” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

And reprove your people: This clause probably refers to what, in the case of a dying man, would be his last words to his family, expressing his hopes for them and giving them any final advice he has. Good News Bible says “warn your people,” but a better model is “give your people your last advice.”

Comfort the lowly among them: The Latin word for lowly refers to “poor people” and Ezra is instructed to comfort or “encourage” them. This clause may be translated “Give the poor people some comforting words” or simply “Comfort the poor people.”

And instruct those that are wise: God also tells Ezra to teach the wise (anyone who can understand deep thoughts). This clause is not in the Latin text, even though it appears to be genuine. Like Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible, translators should include a footnote on it.

And now renounce the life that is corruptible …: Compare 1 Cor 15.53-54. This clause and verses 14-15 describe Ezra’s ascent to heaven without passing through death. The connector And now may be rendered “Then” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version) or omitted (see the model below). Renounce the life that is corruptible may be translated “put this mortal life [or, this life that will end] behind you” or even “give up your mortal body” (similarly Contemporary English Version). For human life being corruptible (that is, mortal), compare 2 Esd 4.11; 7.88.

And put away from you mortal thoughts may be expressed as “Stop using human ways of thinking” or even “Stop thinking as humans do.”

Cast away from you the burdens of man may be rendered “Put aside your earthly cares” or “Stop worrying about everyday matters” (Contemporary English Version).

And divest yourself now of your weak nature may be translated “Leave your weak human nature behind you.”

Here is a possible model for verses 13-14:

• 13 Now then, get ready to leave this world. Give your people your last advice. Give the poor some comforting words, and give the wise people your wise thoughts.* Put this mortal life behind you, 14 as well as human ways of thinking. Put aside your earthly cares, and leave your weak human nature behind you.
* And give … thoughts: Latin does not have these words.

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.