He advanced to the ends of the earth: The ends of the earth is an idiom meaning “the farthest parts of the earth [or, world].” Even though Alexander only reached India, in the mind of the writer he went to the farthest point of the earth.

And plundered many nations: To “plunder” is to rob people of their valuables. This clause may be rendered “and forcibly took the possessions [or, valuable belongings] of people everywhere.”

When the earth became quiet before him means that Alexander’s army no longer met any resistance. Good News Bible translates “when he had conquered the world,” but the author was surely referring to the world as the author knew it, not to the world as we know it today. Other possible models are “When he had conquered all the people [or, nations]” or “… every nation on earth.”

He was exalted, and his heart was lifted up: In Greek his heart is probably the subject for the verb was exalted also. Was exalted and was lifted up have practically the same meaning. Good News Bible says “he became proud and arrogant.” The New English Bible (New English Bible) is also good with “his pride knew no limits,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “his ambitious heart swelled with pride.” Many languages will have suitable idiomatic expressions for pride using the idea of heart or liver; for example, “his heart/liver puffed up [or, became high].”

There are a number of ways of combining verses 2 and 3. Here is one possibility:

• As he [or, he and his soldiers] advanced to the farthest parts of the earth, he [or, they] fought many battles and captured many places with strong walls. He [or, They] also killed local rulers [or, kings/high chiefs] and forcibly took the possessions of people everywhere. When Alexander had conquered all the people of the world, he became proud and arrogant.

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.