This verse is found in the book of 2 Maccabees, which recounts the struggle of the Jewish people against Seleucid Greek rule in the 2nd century BCE. To understand the verse, we need a little context:

Nicanor: A Seleucid general who was sent to Judea.
The Articles: Nicanor had previously made a peace agreement or treaty with the Jewish people, presumably with Judas Maccabeus (the leader of the Jewish rebellion).
"The man having done no wrong": This refers to Judas Maccabeus or someone else who was supposed to be protected by the treaty. Someone was trying to convince Nicanor to break the treaty and harm this innocent person.

Meaning of the Verse:

The verse describes Nicanor's reaction to a message or request that he break the treaty he had made. The message likely urged him to arrest or harm someone (possibly Judas Maccabeus) who was under the protection of the agreement.

Here's a breakdown:

"And when this message came to Nicanor, he was confounded..." This means Nicanor was confused and thrown into disarray by the message. He didn't know what to do.
"...and was sore troubled at the thought of annulling the articles that had been agreed upon..." This tells us that Nicanor was deeply disturbed by the idea of breaking the treaty he had made. He recognized the importance of keeping his word.
"...the man having done no wrong" This emphasizes that the person Nicanor was being asked to harm was innocent and had not violated the treaty. This made Nicanor's dilemma even more acute. He was being asked to commit an injustice.

In essence, the verse highlights Nicanor's initial moral conflict. He is hesitant to betray his agreement and harm an innocent person, even though he is being pressured to do so. It sets the stage for the events that follow, showing that Nicanor, at least initially, possessed some sense of justice and honor. However, his eventual actions in the story show that he ultimately succumbed to pressure and abandoned his principles.