Behold is used to attract the attention of the hearer or reader. It is not normally used in modern English, so Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit it. However, if a particular language has a word with a similar function, it may be used here.

We, the servants of Nebuchadnezzar, the Great King: The messengers begin by presenting themselves to Holofernes as subjects of his king. They are speaking to Holofernes, not Nebuchadnezzar; see the note on 3.1. The messengers open the speech by identifying themselves as submissive servants. “Slaves” would not be overstating the case, but the word needs to be reserved for verse 4, where “slaves” is clearly meant. Contemporary English Version has “We are servants of the great King Nebuchadnezzar.” Good News Translation has “We remain loyal to you,” but this misconstrues the situation. They have not been loyal; that is why they are being punished.

Lie prostrate before you: This may or may not indicate their actual physical posture while addressing the general. It may be only a figure of speech, so Good News Translation translates the meaning of the figure with “we are ready to serve you.” However, the Good News Translation expression does not convey well the total submission with which the envoys approach their conqueror. Contemporary English Version is better with “We surrender to you….”

There is a threefold offer of submission. At the end of 3.2 the messengers surrender their own persons. At the end of 3.3 they surrender their land, crops, and livestock. At the end of 3.4 they surrender their cities and people. The actual language differs slightly in each case: Do with us … do with them … deal with them.

Do with us whatever you will: This is much more than an expression of readiness to “obey any command” (Good News Translation). It is utter surrender: Kill us if you like; we are yours; we offer no resistance. An alternative translation is “we are completely in your power.”

An alternative translation model for this verse may be:

• We are slaves of the great king Nebuchadnezzar. We surrender to you General Holofernes, and are completely in your power.

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.