In fact, not to let the impious alone for long, but to punish them immediately, is a sign of great kindness: The author argues that God was being kind to his people by punishing them soon, rather than waiting. Translators should keep the connector In fact to stress this point. It will be helpful in some languages to rearrange this verse in one of the following ways:

• In fact, when God punishes sinners quickly, it is a sign of great kindness.

• … quickly, he is showing great kindness.

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.