Today he will be exalted may be rendered “Today people give him great honor [or, face].”

But tomorrow he will not be found, because he has returned to the dust: Tomorrow is not to be taken literally; it simply refers to an indefinite time in the near future. Contemporary English Version has “soon.” Another possible model is “some day.” Both he will not be found and he has returned to the dust refer to the anticipated death of King Antiochus. Good News Bible translates he will not be found as “he will disappear,” but this does not imply a sudden vanishing from sight; rather it means that he will be gone. New English Bible says “there will be no trace of him.” Because he has returned to the dust may be rendered “because he will be dead and buried.”

And his plans will perish means that Antiochus’ intentions of getting rid of Judaism will die along with him. Good News Bible translates plans as “scheming” since that word implies plans with malicious intent. For the final two clauses Contemporary English Version is quite similar to Revised Standard Version, saying “Dust is all that will remain of him and his plans.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• People praise and honor him now, but soon he will be gone—dead and buried—and all of his schemes will come to an end [or, die with him].

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.