Her temple has become like a man without honor: Some manuscripts read “Her people” instead of Her temple, and the majority of manuscripts read “with honor” instead of without honor. Most scholars would agree with the reading in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible, and we recommend following them. The idea of without honor might be better conveyed by referring to “disgrace” or “shame.”

An alternative model for verses 7-8 is:

• 7 and he lamented, “Why was I born to see these terrible [or, horrible] things happen? Our enemies have crushed [or, ruined] my people and the holy [or, the One in Heaven’s] city. The people there did nothing when the enemies captured the city and took possession of the Temple. 8 The Temple is now like a person who has been disgraced [or, completely lost face].

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.