He answered me and said: Contemporary English Version says “Uriel answered” for clarity.

This present world is not the end: Contemporary English Version says “The world you now live in isn’t the end.”

The full glory does not abide in it: The Latin text does not have the word not (see Revised Standard Version‘s first footnote). We prefer the reading with this word. Revised Standard Version‘s second footnote presents an alternate translation of this clause, which we prefer: “the glory does not continuously abide in it.” Compare New English Bible, which says “and the glory of God does not stay in it continually” (similarly Good News Bible). Contemporary English Version is also helpful with “God’s bright glory cannot always be seen here.”

Therefore those who were strong prayed for the weak: The words strong and weak refer not to physical strength, but to the strength of one’s faith. Contemporary English Version makes this clear by saying “That’s why God’s most faithful people could pray for those who are weak.”

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• Uriel answered, “This present age [or, world] is not the end of everything. Here we can never see* the full glory of God. That is why people who are strong in faith can pray for those who are weaker.
* Some ancient translations never see; Latin see.

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.