May he open your heart to his law and his commandments: Here open your heart to means “cause you to get knowledge/understanding of.” Law refers to the Law of Moses, the Torah (see the comments 1Macc 1.56). Good News Bible expresses this idea by capitalizing “Law.” Since the capital “L” cannot be heard when read aloud, translators may wish to say “God’s Law.” His commandments refers to all the commands of Torah, not just to the Ten Commandments. Translators could say “its commands,” referring back to the Torah. A possible model for this whole clause is “May he cause you [or, We ask him to cause you] to understand his Law and its commands.”

And may he bring peace: The Greek word for peace is the usual translation of the Hebrew word shalom, referring not only to peace, but to prosperity and health as well. In light of what is to follow, the word “peace” is probably a good choice here. Good News Bible has joined this clause to the following verse as the first of a series of good wishes. This is effective, and we suggest that translators follow Good News Bible‘s model.

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.