Contemporary English Version indents Philopator’s words to his advisers in verses 24-28, which other languages may find helpful. Revised Standard Version uses quotation marks around his speech.

You are committing treason and surpassing tyrants in cruelty: The king blames his advisers for the whole affair concerning the attempted destruction of the Jews. He accuses them of being traitors (treason), plotting against him and his government, and being as cruel as tyrants, for planning such a horrible death for the Jews. A tyrant is a ruler who is known for being cruel and merciless. So we may render this sentence as “You are all traitors! This is worse than anything a cruel tyrant would have done!”

And even me, your benefactor, you are now attempting to deprive of dominion and life by secretly devising acts of no advantage to the kingdom: A benefactor is someone who does good things for people. We may render your benefactor as “I have always been good [or, kind] to you.” The king believes that by plotting against the Jews, something that would be of no advantage to the kingdom, that is, only hurt the kingdom, his advisers are really trying to remove him from the throne (deprive of dominion) and even plotting his death. Possible models for this whole sentence are:

• I have always been good to you. But now you want to remove me from power. You are even trying to kill me by secret plots that cannot possibly do the kingdom any good [or, will only hurt my kingdom].

• … You are even secretly planning to kill me. This will only hurt my kingdom.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.