But if it had not happened that they were involved in many sins: The connector But may be rendered “However.” The pronoun they refers to the people of Jerusalem. This clause may be rendered “However, if the people had not sinned so terribly” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

This man would have been scourged: This man points to Antiochus, and the scourging refers back to the punishment of Heliodorus in 2Macc 3.26. In languages that do not have the passive voice, this clause may be translated “the Lord would have whipped [or, punished] Antiochus.”

And turned back from his rash act may be rendered “and stopped him from doing such a foolish thing” (Contemporary English Version).

As soon as he came forward means “immediately” (Good News Bible).

Just as Heliodorus was, whom Seleucus the king sent to inspect the treasury: See 2Macc 3.22-30. Just as Heliodorus was may be rendered “just as he did [or, punished] Heliodorus.” Whom Seleucus the king sent to inspect the treasury may be expressed as “when King Seleucus sent him to inspect the [Temple] treasury.”

Good News Bible offers an exceptionally clear translation of this verse, but for those languages that do not have the passive voice, we suggest the following model:

• However, if the people had not sinned so terribly, the Lord would have whipped [or, punished] Antiochus immediately and stopped him from doing such a foolish thing. The Lord would have punished him just as he did Heliodorus when King Seleucus sent him to inspect the treasury.

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.