The Lord says: As noted in the introductory comments on chapters 15–16, God is probably speaking to Ezra in verses 1-4, but that should not be made explicit. The second person references in these verses are singular in the Latin text. Revised Standard Version adds a footnote to the beginning of verse 1 to indicate that almost all of chapters 15–16 exist only in Latin.

For the word Behold, which highlights the following message, see the comments on 2 Esd 6.18.

Speak in the ears of my people the words of the prophecy which I will put in your mouth: Speak in the ears of my people may be rendered “Tell my people” (Contemporary English Version), “Proclaim to my people” (Good News Bible), or “Go to my people and proclaim to them.” The word prophecy refers to telling a message from God, not necessarily to predicting the future (see the comments on 1 Esd 6.1). The words of the prophecy which I will put in your mouth may be translated simply “the message that I am going to give [or, tell] you.”

And cause them to be written on paper: The pronoun them refers to the words of the prophecy (that is, the messages from God). Whatever is meant by the Latin word carta, it is not what we call paper. The author could very well have had sheets of papyrus in mind, but not many translators will want to talk of papyrus. The focus here is writing down the prophecies, not the kind of writing surface. Translators can easily avoid mentioning any specific kind of writing material by rendering this clause as “and then have them written down” (Good News Bible; similarly Contemporary English Version, New English Bible). However, in languages that do not have the passive voice, translators may say “and have people write them down.”

For they are trustworthy and true: Compare Rev 21.5; 22.6. The conjunction for introduces why God wants Ezra to proclaim and write down the prophecies he gives him. It is “because they are true and can be trusted” (Contemporary English Version).

Here is a possible model for verses 1-2:

• 1 Here is what the Lord says, “Go to my people and proclaim [aloud] to them the prophetic words [or, the messages] that I am going to give you. 2 Then see that they are preserved in writing [or, have people write them down]. They are true, and can be trusted.

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.