mourn

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “mourn” or similar in English is translated in Newari as “have one’s heart broken” or “have a bursting heart” (source: Newari Back Translation).

In Cherokee it is translated as “going around feeling badly” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 16).

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:40

Her dishonor now grew as great as her glory may be rendered “Her dishonor was as great as her former glory” (similarly Good News Bible).

Her exaltation was turned into mourning: The Greek word for exaltation may be rendered “pride” (Good News Bible) or “grandeur.” New Jerusalem Bible translates this line well, saying “her greatness was turned into grief.” Part of its effectiveness is due to the sound pattern in English, but still it may serve as a model.

Contemporary English Version combines the two lines of this verse with “Shame and sorrow replaced its former glory and pride.” In certain languages the nouns dishonor, glory, exaltation, and mourning will need to be expressed with verbal expressions. A model that does this is:

• At one time people considered Jerusalem great and were proud of her.
Now they were ashamed of the city and mourned for 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.