They trust one man each year to rule over them and to control all their land: This one man was known as the consul (actually there were two elected for each year). All their land probably refers to not just Italy, but all the other countries under Roman control. For this sentence Contemporary English Version has “Every year, the Romans elect one man to govern them and the countries under their control.” Another possible model is “Each year they trust one man to govern them and to rule their whole territory.”

They all heed the one man, and there is no envy or jealousy among them: Good News Bible is good here, if translators correct the tense to present. Another possible model is “Everyone obeys this one man, and no one is ever envious or jealous of him.”

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.