But: Translators need a connector here showing the strong feeling of the people against the king’s message.

All who lived in the whole region simply means “all of these people” (Contemporary English Version).

Disregarded the orders of Nebuchadnezzar means the people “ignored, paid no attention to King Nebuchadnezzar’s message [or, invitation].”

Refused to join him in the war means they “refused to help him fight against his enemies.”

They were not afraid of him: Afraid may be rendered figuratively in a number of languages; for example, “He did not make their hearts [or, livers] shiver [or, tremble].”

But looked upon him as only one man: But may also be expressed as “Their reason was…” or may be expanded to “They ignored King Nebuchadnezzar because….” [They] looked upon him is literally “he was against/before them as.” This is usually taken to mean “they considered him,” since it corresponds to a Hebrew idiom. Only one man indicates that these peoples considered him isolated, without allies. New English Bible reads “he seemed to them to stand alone and unsupported.” Good News Translation‘s translation “They thought he had no chance of winning the war” seems to interpret the clause in this way. Only one man is sometimes understood to mean “only a man,” so the whole clause is translated “they thought he was only a man.” This has the merit of a neat contrast with Holofernes’ demands that Nebuchadnezzar be worshiped as a god (3.8). There is a textual variant in one (important) manuscript which makes this point more clearly. Most translators and commentators prefer the former understanding. Carey Moore, who translates “an ordinary man,” is an exception (from his 1985 commentary in The Anchor Bible series, to be cited as Moore hereon). The phrase “as one man” is used at 6.3, but there its meaning is clear and can be translated literally. The reason they were not afraid of him was that they thought he couldn’t win. Good News Translation shows this logical relation by reordering the clauses as: “they thought that he had no chance of winning the war, so they were not afraid of him.”

They sent back his messengers empty-handed: Almost all translations use the expression empty-handed, although the text simply says “empty.” Empty-handed would be appropriate if the messengers were expected to return with an object, something that could be literally held in the hands. What is said is simply that they have failed to accomplish their goal. Following this sense, New Jerusalem Bible uses “with nothing achieved,” meaning that no one came with them.

Shamefaced: Good News Translation has “disgraced,” and Contemporary English Version “embarrassed.” It is also possible to use an idiomatic expression, such as “with great loss of face.”

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.