And now: Moore has a nice lead-in to this verse: “But as it is….” A new paragraph is in order here as Judith changes the subject.

In order that my lord may not be defeated and his purpose frustrated, death will fall upon them, for a sin has overtaken them …: My lord may not be defeated means “the Israelites will not defeat you” or “you will defeat the Israelites.” His purpose frustrated means “you will not fail to achieve your goals” or “you will accomplish everything just as you planned.” These first two clauses may then be alternatively translated as “But you can defeat the Israelites just as you planned.”

Death will fall upon them means “these people are going to die.” The relationship of this clause to the rest of the verse is not clear. The Greek can be understood “in order that my lord not be defeated or frustrated, and in order that death will fall on their faces, sin has overtaken them….” With this understanding the death of the Israelites is one of the purposes along with Holofernes not being defeated nor his plans frustrated. Sin overtaking the Israelites is the means to these purposes. The Greek can also be understood “in order that my lord not be defeated or frustrated, death will fall on their faces, for sin has overtaken them….” With this understanding the death of the Israelites is the means to Holofernes not being defeated nor his plans frustrated. Sin overtaking the Israelites is the reason for their death. Most scholars are convinced that the latter understanding is more likely, and it is followed by Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and Revised Standard Version.

For a sin has overtaken them by which they are about to provoke their God to anger when they do what is wrong: Sin has overtaken them means “they have already decided to sin.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version miss a point by combining sin and what is wrong into one expression. Sin is pictured as already having overtaken them (so that they are in its grasp). But doing what is wrong is still in the future. The people have already decided what they will do (sin has them in its grasp), but they have not yet done it (they are soon going to commit a wrong/sacrilege). What is wrong as well as Good News Translation‘s “sin” are both too weak for what Judith means. A special word is used, meaning “something out of order/place.” The act she has in mind is not a sin against morality, but a ritual sin, a sin of uncleanness, a sacrilege, or an unholy (or, taboo) act. With these points in mind we may translate “and will soon do something that their God has prohibited [or, something that is taboo].”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• You can defeat the Israelites, just as you planned. Those people are going to die. They have already decided to sin, and will soon do something that their God has prohibited [or, forbidden]. This will make him angry.

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.