Good News Bible combines verses 10-11 in order to move forward from verse 11 the reference to Simon. This works, but is not necessary. We suggest that translators keep the verses separate.

The high priest explained that there were some deposits belonging to widows and orphans: Deposits belonging to widows and orphans refers to money that was in the Temple treasury to be given to widows and orphans; the widows and orphans had not put the money there. Translators should make this clear as in the following model for this verse:

• Onias explained that there was some money in the Temple treasury that was to be given to widows and orphans.

For languages that prefer direct speech here, translators may say:

• Onias explained [or, answered], “There is some money in the Temple treasury that is to be given to [or, that we keep to give to] widows and orphans.”

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.