A paragraph break is needed here. This verse describes what the king was doing during the forty days that the registration of the Jews was taking place.
The king was greatly and continually filled with joy: Philopator was happy, looking forward to the bloody scene when he would kill the Jews. He was far removed from religious reality. Contemporary English Version‘s translation is not accurate here. A possible model is “Meanwhile [or, While the registration was going on], the king was as happy as he could be.”
Organizing feasts in honor of all his idols may be expressed as “He held feasts for all his idols [or, to honor all his idols].”
With a mind alienated from truth and with a profane mouth: When he spoke, it was to offer praise to idols, which is in itself profane speech. We may render this phrase as “Every word he spoke to those idols was false and unholy [or, profane/taboo].”
Praising speechless things that are not able even to communicate or to come to one’s help: Speechless things refers to the idols. Communicate implies both speaking and hearing. See below for a possible model of this clause.
And uttering improper words against the supreme God: Not only did he praise his idols, but he spoke improper words against the real God. Improper words refers to blasphemies, and may be rendered “terrible insults.” For the supreme God, see the comments on 3 Macc 1.9.
Here is an alternative model for this verse:
• While the registration was going on [or, Meanwhile], the king was as happy as he could be. He held feasts for all his idols. Every word he spoke to those idols was false and unholy [or, profane/taboo], since idols cannot speak, cannot hear, and cannot help anybody. He also said terrible things [or, insults] about God Most High.
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.
