See now, O holy King: It will be good to begin this verse with the connector “So” or “Therefore.” For the sense of holy here, see 3 Macc 2.2. This clause may be rendered “So look at us now, holy King.”

That because of our many and great sins we are crushed with suffering may be expressed as “We have often sinned greatly [or, terribly] against you. Because of that, we are now suffering terribly.”

Subjected to our enemies, and overtaken by helplessness may be rendered “Our enemies rule us, and we can do nothing about it.”

Contemporary English Version has an excellent model for this verse, but here is an alternative:

• So look at us now, holy King. We have often sinned against you, and sinned greatly. Because of that, we are now suffering terribly. Our enemies rule us, and we can do nothing about it.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.