For in the case of the other nations the Lord waits patiently to punish them until they have reached the full measure of their sins; but he does not deal in this way with us: Good News Bible rearranges this verse in an effective way. The logical connector For may be left implied, as in Good News Bible. Until they have reached the full measure of their sins (literally “until they have reached to fullness of sins”) may be expressed as “until their sins have piled up high,” “until their sinfulness has reached a climax,” “until they have become deeply involved in sin” (Good News Bible), or “until they have sinned terribly” (similarly Contemporary English Version). But he does not deal in this way with us may be rendered “But the Lord does not treat us in this way” or “But God treats us differently” (Contemporary English Version).

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.