self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 10:54

Now therefore let us establish friendship with one another refers to a proposed alliance between Ptolemy’s kingdom in Egypt and Alexander’s kingdom in Syria. Good News Bible is misleading here by saying “Now I am ready to make an alliance.” This rendering sounds like Ptolemy had long wanted an alliance with Alexander but Alexander wasn’t ready. That wasn’t the case. Instead, Alexander is suggesting here an alliance for the first time. If translators follow the model for verses 52-53 offered above, they may continue here with “let us now establish an alliance between our two countries.”

Give me now your daughter as my wife: In ancient times it was customary for an alliance between two countries to be made official by the marriage of one king’s daughter to the other. Other ways to translate this clause are “Let me marry your daughter,” and “Please let me take your daughter as my wife.”

And I will become your son-in-law: See Ptolemy’s reply in verse 56. Good News Bible combines this clause with the previous one, saying “Give me your daughter in marriage.” No information is lost by this condensation, because it is obvious that when a man takes a wife he becomes a son-in-law of someone. However, Good News Bible‘s translation does shift the emphasis considerably. Alexander is not seeking a wife so much as trying to make a political alliance with Ptolemy. His primary interest is to be Ptolemy’s son-in-law. If it is not unnatural in a translator’s language, this clause should be kept. An alternative model is “then I will be your son-in-law.”

And will make gifts to you and to her in keeping with your position: Contemporary English Version‘s model for this clause is helpful: “Then I will give each of you gifts that are worthy of a king and his daughter.”

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• … please let me marry your daughter. Then I will be your son-in-law, and there will be an alliance between our two countries. I will give appropriate gifts to you and to her.”

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.