Behold, calamities are sent forth and shall not return until they come over the earth: Compare verses 5 and 8. For the word Behold, which highlights the following message, see the comments on 2 Esd 6.18. Here the calamities are seen as the arrows mentioned in the previous verse. A model of this sentence that makes this clear is “Yes, the troubles [or, disasters] God has sent toward the earth are like those arrows—they will not stop until they reach their targets” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out until it consumes the foundations of the earth: Compare verses 4, 6, and 9; see also 2 Esd 15.23. For languages that do not have the passive voice, this sentence may by translated “He has started a fire, and he won’t put it out until it burns up the foundations of the earth [or, until it destroys the earth].”

Good News Bible provides a good model for verses 14-15. Another possible one is:

• 14 Look, the troubles he [or, God] has sent toward the earth are like those arrows. They won’t stop until they reach the earth [or, their targets]. 15 He has started a fire and will not put it out until it burns up the foundations of the earth.

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.