For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the Gentiles: The Greek words translated debauchery and reveling are close in meaning. The two words are used together for emphasis. To convey the effect of debauchery and revelry, New English Bible says “licentious revelry,” and Contemporary English Version has “wild parties and … other disgusting things.” Good News Bible translates “drinking parties and all sorts of immorality.” The Greek says nothing specifically about “drinking parties,” but “drinking parties” would certainly be covered by the words used. Translators need to look for terms in their own languages that describe wild parties (reveling) and immoral behavior (debauchery).

Who dallied with harlots and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts: The harlots (Good News Bible “prostitutes”) and women are the same group; again the writer intensifies his point by repeating it. The shocking thing is that the Gentiles (men, of course) used the Temple for having sex with prostitutes. Some may have been local women and some may have been among those who followed the armies. In a number of cultures translators will need to avoid a direct reference to sexual intercourse and use a euphemism; for example, “They lay with [or, slept with/knew/visited] prostitutes in the holy Temple.” Good News Bible moves the idea of the sacred precincts (that is, the Temple) to the next clause, but this loses some effect. It would be better to say “Right there in the holy Temple they had intercourse with [or, slept with] prostitutes.”

And besides brought in things for sacrifice that were unfit: The phrase for sacrifice is not in the Greek. Revised Standard Version inserts this phrase, assuming that things … that were unfit refers to animals that were ritually unclean and could not be used as sacrifices. These forbidden sacrifices are specifically mentioned in the next verse. But here the reference may be to idols. Compare 2Macc 4.19, where a similar expression, “that was inappropriate,” is used of a sacrifice to a Greek god. The point there is not the animals to be offered but that the sacrifices would be made to an idol. Translators who wish to render this as Revised Standard Version has done certainly have good reason, but in our opinion Good News Bible is safer in referring only to “Forbidden objects.” Here is a possible model for the whole clause: “They also brought things into the Temple that should not be there.”

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.