They said, “Do not treat us according to our wicked acts but according to your mercy”: Our wicked acts refers to the people’s willingness to abandon Jewish law and tradition. Good News Bible leaves this phrase implied, but it may be included by rendering Do not treat us according to our wicked acts as “We have done terrible things and deserve to be punished.” For Treat us … according to your mercy, Good News Bible has “Have mercy on us,” but in this context it will be more natural to say “But please have mercy on us” (Contemporary English Version). Some translators may find it better to use indirect discourse for this verse. A model that does this is:

• They admitted their guilt [or, sins], but begged him not to punish them as they deserved. They begged for mercy.

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.