So the calamities will not delay in coming forth upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side: Here the earth is personified as a woman in labor (see the comments on the previous verse). On every side means “all over the world.” An alternative model for this verse is:

• That is how it will be when these disasters strike. The whole world will be groaning, but there will be nothing it can do to stop the pain.

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.