Therefore the place itself shared in the misfortunes that befell the nation and afterward participated in its benefits: The connector Therefore may be rendered “So” (Good News Bible) or “That’s why” (Contemporary English Version). The place again refers to the Temple. Shared in the misfortunes may be rendered “suffered together” or “went through [or, endured] the same sufferings.” An alternative model for the whole sentence is “That’s why the Temple and our people suffered together, and later the Lord blessed them together” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

And what was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty was restored again in all its glory when the great Lord became reconciled: What was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty refers to the Temple, so we may say “when the Lord All-Powerful got angry with us, he deserted [or, abandoned] our Temple” (similarly Contemporary English Version). Good News Bible omits the phrase in all its glory, but it should be kept. There is also no good reason for Good News Bible to render the Almighty and the great Lord by the one phrase “The Lord.” For the Almighty, see the comments on 2Macc 3.22. The Greek word for Lord is not the usual word, but the one used in verse 17. New American Bible translates the great Lord as “the great Sovereign.” We may also say “the great Ruler of the world.” The great Lord became reconciled means God had made peace with his people and was no longer angry with them.

Contemporary English Version provides a helpful model for this verse by saying:

• That’s why the temple and our people suffered together and were later blessed together. So when God All-Powerful got angry with us, he deserted our temple. But after God made peace with us, he gave the temple back its glory.

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.