Her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants: Her words may also be expressed as “the words she spoke,” “what Judith had said” (Good News Translation), or “Judith’s plan.” All his servants are the men mentioned in 10.20.

And said in verse 20 becomes in Good News Translation “they commented one to another” at the close of verse 21. This keeps the narrator’s statement of their reaction and the words of their reaction from being interrupted with an editorial note. But some translators will find Revised Standard Version‘s translation more natural style. Contemporary English Version is also helpful: “They were so amazed at her wisdom that they said to each other….”

There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, either for beauty of face or wisdom of speech: From one end of the earth to the other means “in all the world” or “all over the world.” For this sentence Good News Translation has “She must be the wisest and most beautiful woman in the world” (similarly Contemporary English Version). This translation expresses the proper tone of admiration. However, one may also translate in a way similar to Revised Standard Version‘s wisdom of speech; for example, “speaks such wise words.”

An alternative translation model for verses 21-22 is:

• Holofernes and his servants liked what Judith said. They were so amazed at her wisdom that they said to each other, “There is no woman in the world who is so beautiful and speaks such wise words [or, speaks so wisely].”

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.