Now I urge those who read this book not to be depressed by such calamities: The author is speaking here directly to his readers. So we may begin this new section with “My dear readers” (Contemporary English Version) to render those who read this book. For not to be depressed by such calamities, Good News Bible provides a good model, and so does Contemporary English Version with “don’t be depressed by these sad stories.” Another possibility is “don’t lose faith because of these disasters” or even “don’t think things are hopeless because of these terrible events.”

But to recognize that these punishments were designed not to destroy but to discipline our people: Good News Bible renders this last half of the verse as a new sentence, which may be helpful in other languages. But to recognize may be rendered “Consider” (Good News Bible), “You must realize/understand,” or “Just remember.” These punishments were designed may be expressed as “this was the Lord’s way” (Good News Bible) or even “the Lord let these bad things happen.” The Greek word for discipline in not to destroy but to discipline our people means more than “punishment.” It includes the idea of “education” or “instruction.” So we may translate “not to destroy our people but to instruct them.”

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.