Revised Standard Version inserts a paragraph break here, which is appropriate.

Having said this, he went away: Nicanor left with just as haughty an attitude as he arrived. This sentence may be rendered simply “Then he left.”

Then the priests stretched forth their hands toward heaven and called upon the constant Defender of our nation, in these words: If translators follow the model for the previous sentence, the connector Then may be omitted here. Good News Bible inserts the word “immediately,” which is not in the Greek, but is certainly implied. It was customary to pray with hands raised (see 2Macc 3.20). Good News Bible makes sure that the reader knows God is meant by the phrase the constant Defender of our nation, saying “God, the faithful Defender of our nation.” We may also say “God, the reliable Defender of our nation.” Good News Bible eliminates the phrase in these words since the word “prayed” clearly indicates that the following words will be the words of the prayer.

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.