For when I came here I saw ungodly deeds without number: The conjunction For is better rendered “But” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible), since it introduces a contrast to Ezra’s rhetorical questions in the previous verse. The reader may be helped by being told that the clause when I came here refers back to verse 1, where Ezra tells us he is in Babylon. Like the author of Revelation, however, this author probably intends the reader to understand Babylon as a coded reference to Rome. This clause may be translated “when I first arrived here in Babylon.” I saw ungodly deeds without number may be expressed as “I saw people committing countless ungodly deeds” or “I saw people doing more evil deeds than I could count.”

And my soul has seen many sinners during these thirty years: My soul is a way of Ezra referring to himself, so this phrase may be rendered “I myself,” “with my own eyes I” (Revised English Bible), or simply “I” (Good News Bible). The verb phrase has seen many sinners does not necessarily refer to Ezra witnessing sinners doing things, but simply knowing that he lives among a sinful people. There is a textual problem with the phrase during these thirty years. The Latin text has “in this thirtieth year” (Revised Standard Version footnote), but this text is surely a misreading of the original Hebrew, so with Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible we prefer the reading of some ancient versions.

And my heart failed me: The conjunction And may be rendered “So” (Good News Bible) or omitted (so Contemporary English Version). The figurative expression my heart failed me is interpreted by some scholars to mean “I was puzzled” (similarly Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, Myers). We think this interpretation is probably correct. We also suggest “I could not understand this.” The Latin word for heart expresses the Hebrew word for “heart,” which is the seat of thought and reasoning, not of the emotions.

For I have seen how thou dost endure those who sin may be rendered “because I have seen how you continue to tolerate [or, put up with] sinners.”

And hast spared those who act wickedly: This clause is similar in meaning to the previous one, so Contemporary English Version combines them, saying “when I saw that you did not punish sinners.” Good News Bible keeps this clause, saying simply “and do not punish them.” If possible, translators should keep both clauses for emphasis.

And hast destroyed thy people, and hast preserved thy enemies: In some languages it may be helpful to reverse these two clauses (so Good News Bible; see also the model below).

An alternative model for verses 29-30 is:

• 29 When I first arrived here in Babylon, I saw people committing countless ungodly deeds, and for thirty years* I have known many sinners here [or, I have lived among many sinners here]. I could not understand this, 30 because I have seen how you continue to tolerate sinners by not punishing them, and how you protect your enemies, while you destroy your own people.
* Some ancient translations for thirty years; Latin in this thirtieth year.

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.