Just a short while earlier the priests offered (so they said) a sacrifice on the behalf of the king (verse 33). Now, as a result of Nicanor’s tactless behavior, they are praying for the king’s army to fail. Nicanor had sworn that if he survived the battle, he would come back and destroy the Temple. The priests beg the Lord to let none of them survive the battle, in order to protect the Temple.

Take vengeance on this man and on his army: In many languages a polite request should be used when speaking with deity, so this line may be rendered “Please take vengeance on this man and his soldiers.”

And let them fall by the sword may be expressed as “let them die in battle” (Good News Bible) or “Let them all die when they fight Judas and his soldiers.”

Remember their blasphemies, and let them live no longer: Remember does not imply that the Lord might forget something. Rather, it urges the Lord to keep thinking about their blasphemies—their insults to the Lord and to Jewish worship. This line may be translated “Think of all the evil things [or, words] they said [about you].”

And let them live no longer may be rendered “Please don’t let any of them live any longer.”

An alternative translation for this verse is:

• Please take vengeance on this man and his soldiers. Please let them all die when they fight Judas and his soldiers. Think about all the evil things [or, words] they said about you. Please don’t let any of them live any longer.”

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.