Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and drank … much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born: Greatly pleased is too weak. “Charmed” (Good News Translation) or “delighted” are better renderings of the Greek verb here. Other alternatives for the first clause are “He was so taken by Judith that…” and “Judith so captivated him that….” Good News Translation makes Holofernes’ drinking a result of his being charmed by Judith: “Holofernes was so charmed by her that he drank….” This is legitimate, but not necessary. One can keep two independent clauses here.

The author appears to make a deliberate contrast between Judith in verses 18-19 and Holofernes in verse 20. Both drink (although Judith drinks from her own supply). Judith says that her life has today been “magnified.” Holofernes “is delighted” with her. The Greek verbs used here are occasionally used in close connection in the Psalms (compare 34.2-3 [Greek 33.3-4]; 40.16 [Greek 39.17]; 92.4-5 [Greek 91.5-6]; 126.3 [Greek 125.3]). The emotions of Judith and Holofernes are thus described in ironically parallel terms. The contrast is underscored by Judith’s mentioning “all the days since I was born” and the narrator’s comment that Holofernes drank more than in any one day since he was born. For both Judith and Holofernes, this is a climactic day.

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.