Translators may insert a paragraph break here, as in Revised Standard Version.

The people saw Simon’s faithfulness and the glory which he had resolved to win for his nation: Good News Bible and New English Bible translate the Greek word for faithfulness as “patriotism,” which we believe is at least part of its meaning here. It would be hard to distinguish Simon’s patriotism, or love of country, from his rigid attachment to Jewish law and tradition. As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, there are some Greek manuscripts that read “conduct” here rather than faithfulness, but we recommend following Revised Standard Version‘s text, as most scholars prefer to do. No footnote is necessary. An alternative model for the beginning of this verse is: “The people saw that Simon was a faithful [or, dependable] person and loved his country very much. They also saw that he was determined to make them a great nation.”

And they made him their leader and high priest: See 1Macc 13.42. The people acclaimed Simon as their leader in 1Macc 13.8, but nothing is said there about him becoming the High Priest, an office bestowed on Jonathan by King Alexander (1Macc 10.20). In 1Macc 13.36 Demetrius~II addressed Simon as High Priest, and verse 38 seems to accept that Demetrius made the appointment. Both of these appointments took place before Simon took the city of Gezer (1Macc 13.43-48), which seems to indicate that strict chronological order is not being followed here.

Because he had done all these things: All these things refers to Simon’s deeds in verses 31-34. Good News Bible begins a new sentence here: “They did this because of all that he had accomplished….”

And because of the justice and loyalty which he had maintained toward his nation: Good News Bible reverses the order of justice and loyalty by saying “through his loyalty and because he had brought about justice.” We may also translate “and because he was loyal to his people and continually sought to rule his people justly [or, fairly].”

He sought in every way to exalt his people: Simon did everything to make the Jews a people who were known and respected by other nations. We may say “He did everything he could to gain honor and respect for them.”

The following model for this verse reorders the clauses:

• The people knew all these things that he had done. They were aware that he had always treated them fairly and had been loyal to them. The people knew how determined he was to make them a great nation. So they made him their leader and high priest, and he did everything he could to gain honor and respect for them.

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.