If you really hope in your heart that they will not be taken, do not look downcast!: Here Holofernes is reminding Achior of his words in 5.21. Another way to render this whole sentence is “If you are holding out any hope that the city will not be captured, then you have no reason to worry.” This is essentially what the Greek means; compare New English Bible: “If you are so confident that they will not fall into our hands, you need not look downcast.” Do not look downcast can also be rendered “Don’t look so worried, Achior” or “Why do you look so upset, Achior?” Good News Translation rearranges the order of the two clauses in this sentence, and shifts from a statement to two confrontational, mocking questions. A dramatic scene is created that is right on target emotionally.

I have spoken and none of my words shall fail: These words closely resemble those at the end of 6.4 where Holofernes stresses the importance of Nebuchadnezzar’s commands (“For he has spoken; none of his words shall be in vain.”). Essentially, only the verb is different; shall fail replaces “be in vain.” The verb used here is closer to that in Josh 21.45; 23.14; 1 Sam 3.19. Good News Translation‘s restructuring is consistent with the immediate context, but it misses the significant connection with 6.4. Contemporary English Version is slightly better with “Just remember that I will do everything I have said!”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.