In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)
Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 6:11
I said to myself: Good News Bible has an effective way of connecting verses 11 and 12 by rendering this clause as “At first I asked myself,” and we recommend following it. By converting what the king says to himself in verse 11 into this indirect question, Good News Bible avoids an embedded quotation. Further, “At first” beginning verse 11 and “But then” beginning verse 12 make a convincing scene. Antiochus thought he was a good person until he received the bad news from Judea. Then he figured that his troubles must be punishment for the atrocities he had committed in Judea.
To what distress I have come! And into what a great flood I now am plunged!: These two exclamations may be rendered “How did I ever get into so much trouble [or, up to my neck in troubles]?” or “Why have all these troubles come flooding over me?”
For I was kind and beloved in my power may be translated “After all, I was a kind ruler [or, king/high chief], and my people loved me.”
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.
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