We are now praying for you here: This assurance adds further evidence that the Egyptian Jews were experiencing trouble. The word now presents a problem. A translation should not suggest that the Jews in Judea just started to pray for these people, or that their prayers were going on at the very time these words were being written. It may be better to say “always” rather than now, or to leave the idea understood. Here refers to “back here in Jerusalem and Judea.” An alternative model for this verse is:

• Here in Jerusalem and Judea we are always praying for you.

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.