When they met her is literally “When they came to her.” “When they arrived” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) translates the Greek just as well as When they met her.

They all blessed her with one accord: Blessed means “praised” (Good News Translation) or “said nice things about her.” Contemporary English Version omits this verb as repetitive, because their words show that they are praising her. With one accord is the same phrase used to describe the Israelite attack in 15.5. In both cases Good News Translation has satisfied the text with a simple “all.” Here it means “unanimously,” and a word in the receptor language with that meaning would work well. In English with one accord is an obscure way to say it, and “with one voice” (New English Bible) conjures up an odd picture of choral recitation.

You are the exaltation of Jerusalem or “You are Jerusalem’s crowning glory” (Good News Translation) will be difficult to translate in some languages. Perhaps “You have caused Jerusalem to be greatly honored [or, receive great honor/face]” will be more suitable.

You are the great glory of Israel: Good News Translation takes this to mean that they are praising her for being a “heroine.” This means she is admired for her victory over Holofernes. So one may translate “You are admired by all the people of Israel for your bravery.” But this clause may also mean “your bravery has brought great honor to Israel” or “because you were so brave, you have caused Israel to receive great honor.”

You are the great pride of our nation may be rendered “We are all proud of you.”

In Good News Translation‘s version of the blessing (which is essentially praise) we may be sure that all the elements of the text are present, although it might be hard to identify those elements with particular phrases in Good News Translation. Good News Translation is saying what the authorities want said. The careful translator may want to have 10.8 at hand when working with this verse, since some of the language there is repeated here very effectively.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• When they arrived, they all praised her, saying, “You have caused Jerusalem to receive great honor. Your bravery has brought great honor to Israel and all of us are proud of you.”

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.