And Judas and his men met the enemy in battle with invocation to God and prayers: As the enemy sang hymns to Apollo, the Jews prayed to the Lord. Translators would do well to follow Good News Bible by linking this verse to the previous one, and beginning it with the connector “but.” This would help bring out the contrast intended between the two verses. Invocation to God and prayers mean the same thing, so these expressions may be combined as Good News Bible has done by saying “calling on God for help.” An alternative model for this verse is:

• But as Judas and his soldiers went to fight the enemy, they prayed to God for help.

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.