Good News Translation reorders this verse, which does no harm. If the original order is kept, it should be noted that the initial phrase In spite of everything can be understood a number of ways in Greek. New Jerusalem Bible has “All this being so” and New American Bible “Besides all this.” New English Bible is creative: “We have every reason to give thanks….” We suggest following New English Bible.

For Lord our God, see verse 14.

Who is putting us to the test: Rather than sinfully put God to the test (verse 12), Judith suggests that God is putting them to the test, and that this is something for which to be thankful (compare Deut 8.5; Psa 94.12-15; Pro 3.11-12; Wis 3.1-7).

Forefathers refers to more distant generations than the “fathers” of verse 19. “Ancestors” (Good News Translation) is appropriate.

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.