At this point Achior’s speech takes a different approach. Through verse 16 he has been giving a historical summary of how their God led the Israelites through ancient times and places to occupy the land they now held. Now (verses 17-19) he informs Holofernes of what happened when the people disobeyed their God, and what happened when they returned to him. The outcome of the intended battle, then, is going to depend not on Holofernes’ might, or on informed answers to Holofernes’ questions in 5.3-4, but rather on whether the people of Judea remain faithful to their God.

As long as they did not sin against their God they prospered: The people prospered as long as they did not sin; compare Deut 28-30, and its condensation in Jdg 2.11-15. They prospered may also be rendered “they were successful” or “God caused them to be successful.”

For the God who hates iniquity is with them: Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version reverse the order of the clauses to forefront the reason why the people could only prosper if they did not sin. It is because God hated sin. However, in some languages translators will find it natural style to keep Revised Standard Version‘s ordering of the clauses. Compare Psa 5.4. As in verse 9, Good News Translation uses small initial letter “god” instead of God presumably to show that Achior is talking about one “god” among many. Good News Translation translates iniquity “wickedness.”

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.