When they raised him up: Good News Translation has “When they had helped him up.” The subject is not specified; this is an impersonal they, so it amounts to no more than the passive “when he was helped up.” Obviously the people standing around do it.
He fell at Judith’s feet, and knelt before her: “Achior bowed at Judith’s feet in respect” (Good News Translation) and “at once he bowed down to show his respect for Judith” (Contemporary English Version) give the wrong impression (see the comment at 6.18). He did more than bow. He knelt with his face to the ground once again, but this time it was done “in respect.” New English Bible reads “he threw himself at Judith’s feet” (New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible are very similar), which is good. He is not losing consciousness this time. Now, in full consciousness, he goes to the ground again, but this time out of respect, in homage. But it is not a move full of dignity, as “bowed” might suggest. There are two verbs. He falls to the ground, and he kneels before Judith, but these are one and the same action. He does not fall to the ground and then get to his knees. A possible model for the first part of the verse is “When they had helped him up, he went to the ground again by kneeling at Judith’s feet in respect.”
Blessed are you in every tent of Judah: For Blessed see 13.17. Tents were dwelling places, so Good News Translation‘s “May every family in the land of Judah praise you” is the meaning (compare Jdg 5.24: “Most blessed of women be Jael”). Good News Translation‘s “in the land of Judah” is also helpful. Even though Judith’s name means “Jew,” she is of the tribe of Simeon, not Judah. Calling attention to Judah as a territory rather than a tribe alleviates a small difficulty.
In every nation those who hear your name will be alarmed: The phrase In every nation is ambiguous. It may be taken with the preceding phrase (as in New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible) or with what follows, as in Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version. With the former interpretation the previous clause could be reworded in Good News Translation to read “May every family in the land of Judah and every nation praise you.” This translation is easily derived from the Greek. Most interpreters, however, feel that the second line of Achior’s blessing fits better with reference only to every nation; for example, “may every nation tremble with terror when they hear your name” (Good News Translation). Actually, the verb in the second line of the blessing is in future tense: “Every nation will tremble with terror when they hear your name.” This is the approach we recommend. The author may be using the verb alarmed to recall the use of the word in 4.2, when every nation is terrified at the approach of Nebuchadnezzar.
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.