With my lord and master Judith is not simply being polite (Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version “sir”); she is also being submissive with good reason. Holofernes became furious with Achior, and Judith is about to say that Achior was right. She is smoothing the way.

Do not disregard what he said, but keep it in your mind: These two clauses are almost synonymous. Although they can be combined into one, Good News Translation prefers to express them both. It increases the drama of the situation. Do not disregard is a double negative, meaning “do not not pay attention”; thus Good News Translation‘s “do not dismiss lightly.” Some languages will have to use a strong positive command; for example, “pay close attention.” Keep it in your mind is literally “keep it in your heart,” but it means exactly what Good News Translation says: “take it seriously.”

For it is true: It would be in keeping with the tone here to have Judith say “because it really is true.”

Our nation cannot be punished, nor can the sword prevail against them: Sword (as in 1.12) represents “weapons of war,” so nor can the sword prevail against them means “they cannot be defeated by weapons of war.” This sentence will need to be made active in a number of languages; for example, “No one can harm or conquer our people” (Good News Translation) or “No enemy can conquer or defeat our nation of Israel” (Contemporary English Version).

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.