On their return they sang hymns and praises to Heaven, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever: Compare Psa 118.1. As Good News Bible makes clear, On their return refers to the return of the Jews to their own camp, after looting the enemy camp. For translators who are following our author in avoiding direct references to God, they may wish to render this verse as follows:

• When they went back to their own camp, they sang hymns praising Heaven [or, the One in Heaven]. They sang, “He is good and his mercy endures forever [or, he never stops being merciful].”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.