Translators should begin a new paragraph here (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible).

Simon knew that they were speaking deceitfully to him: The pronoun they refers to the messengers sent by Trypho, so this clause may be rendered “Simon knew that the messengers were lying.”

But he sent to get the money and the sons, lest he arouse great hostility among the people, who might say: The Greek word for sons makes it clear that they were boys at the time. Good News Bible so translates it in verse 18. We suggest the following model for the last half of this verse: “but he sent for the money and Jonathan’s two sons because he did not want the Jewish people to be angry at [or, hate] him and say….” Good News Bible moves the last clause of this verse (who might say) to the beginning of the next verse, where it begins with “He was afraid that they might later say….”

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.