Translators should begin a new paragraph here (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible).

Ptolemy the king replied and said: Ptolemy’s reply is short, although not much shorter than Alexander’s letter. Good News Bible chooses not to indent this letter, as it has earlier ones; translators must decide what seems most appropriate.

Happy was the day on which you returned to the land of your fathers: In some languages it will be appropriate to use Alexander’s name at the beginning of the letter; for example, Contemporary English Version says “Alexander, it was a happy day….” Happy was the day (literally “Good day”) expresses Ptolemy’s approval of Alexander’s taking over the Syrian kingdom. Good News Bible translates “It was a great day.” Contemporary English Version is similar to Revised Standard Version with “it was a happy day.” Either of these is a suitable model.

And took your seat on the throne of their kingdom: In cultures where chiefs rule, this clause may be expressed as “and sat on the chair [or, stool] and ruled their kingdom.” But in many other languages this figurative language will not be appropriate. In such cases we may say simply “and ruled their kingdom.”

Alternative translation models for the quotation in this verse are:

• “You have returned to the land of your ancestors and taken over their throne! Good news [or, That is marvelous]!

• Alexander, it was a happy day when you came back to rule the kingdom of your ancestors [Contemporary English Version].

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.