He did not gain control of the government, however: Good News Bible provides a simple, clear model here. Alternatives are “But Jason did not gain control [of Jerusalem]” and “Even so, he did not manage to seize power” (New Jerusalem Bible).

And in the end got only disgrace from his conspiracy: Good News Bible reverses this clause and the next one, which works well enough, but is not necessary. Nor are both “shame” and “disgrace” necessary; either word will be sufficient by itself. We may say simply “and in the end his evil plot brought him nothing but shame [or, disgrace].”

And fled again into the country of the Ammonites: For fled Good News Bible is helpful with “was forced to flee,” and so is Contemporary English Version with “had to run for his life.” The country of the Ammonites is better rendered “the land of Ammon” (see 2Macc 4.26). Alternative models for this clause are “He was forced once again to flee to the land of Ammon” and “He had to flee once again to….”

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.