And it shall be sought by many but shall not be found: The pronoun it refers to “wisdom” in the previous verse. In a time of international unrest, we may think here of diplomats trying to ease tensions by using wisdom, but being unsuccessful. A nonfigurative model for this clause is “Many people will try to use good sense [or, wisdom], but without success.”

And unrighteousness and unrestraint shall increase on earth: Unrighteousness may be rendered “evil” or “wickedness” (Good News Bible). Unrestraint refers to people or nations increasingly using violence against each other rather than thinking in the long term of trying to treat each other decently. This clause may be rendered “People will become more and more evil [or, wicked], and they will treat each other more and more violently.”

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• Many people around the world will try to use good sense [or, wisdom], but without success. Unrighteousness will increase [or, People will become more and more evil/wicked]. People will resort to violence more and more [or, People will become more and more violent with each other].

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.