The subject matter changes as Mattathias now puts Simon and Judas in charge. So a new paragraph may begin here.

Now behold, I know that Simeon your brother is wise in counsel is literally “And behold, your brother Simeon; I know that he is a man of counsel.” New Revised Standard Version translates “Here is your brother Simeon who, I know, is wise in counsel.” This is a good way of dealing with behold, but a word or phrase serving as an attention-getter would probably be better; Mattathias is dying, and is calling attention to his last words. Some languages will use an expression such as “Look,” “Listen [to me],” or “Pay attention to me!” Simeon is the same brother who is called Simon in verse 3 and elsewhere in the book. We urge translators to use the same spelling throughout. An alternative model for this whole sentence is “Look! I am confident that your brother Simon can guide you wisely.”

Always listen to him; he shall be your father: New Jerusalem Bible translates “Listen to him all your lives; let him take your father’s place.” New English Bible has “always listen to him, for he shall be a father to you.” Goldstein uses “Always listen to him; he shall serve as your father.” Any of these models may be followed, but Good News Bible is probably better with “so always listen to him as you would to me.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “So always obey him, just as you would obey me.” Translators might consider reversing these two clauses, saying “He can take my place; always listen to him [or, to what he says].”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• “Look! I am confident that your brother Simon can guide you wisely. He can take my place. Always listen to him [or, to what he says].

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.