Behold, you have brought this upon me, because you search out the ways of the Most High: Ezra accuses his spirit (that is, himself) of bringing on his confusion and fear, because he insisted on trying to understand God’s ways. For the word Behold, which highlights the words that follow, see the comments on 2 Esd 6.18. If the previous verse is adjusted so that Ezra speaks to himself, the pronoun you, which refers to Ezra’s spirit, is better rendered “I” (Good News Bible). For the Most High, see 2 Esd 3.3. We may render this verse as follows:

• “I realize I have brought this [confusion and fear] on myself, because I have been trying to understand the ways of God Most High.

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.