Have courage, my brothers may be translated “Don’t give up, my friends” (Good News Translation) or “Be brave, my friends” (Contemporary English Version).

Let us hold out for five more days may be rendered “Let’s wait five more days” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

The Lord our God will restore to us his mercy may be translated “the Lord our God will be merciful to us” (Good News Translation). Lord our God may be rendered “Our Master, the God whom we worship” or “Our Master and God.”

He will not forsake us utterly may be rendered “Surely he will not abandon us completely” (Good News Translation). Translation here depends to some extent on how one understands Uzziah’s character. Is he confident in his faith that God will rescue the town? If the Greek text is read literally, as in Revised Standard Version, he sounds confident, but he yields to the townspeople by giving God a deadline—putting God to the test. Maybe he is so sure of God that he is willing to grant the deadline as an unlikely possibility. But he does yield. Is he wavering? Good News Translation “Let’s wait … to see if … Surely he will not….” This paints a portrait of Uzziah using brave words to cover doubt (similarly Contemporary English Version). To go this way the translator must be convinced that the narrative justifies this. One cannot derive it from the Greek text alone. What Uzziah says recalls Psa 94.14-15; 1 Sam 12.22; and Lam 3.31. He seems to be specifically hoping for rain (compare 8.31), although it was near the beginning of the dry season, soon after harvest (compare 4.5). Translators may choose between the interpretation used by Revised Standard Version and that of Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version.

Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for this verse:

• But Uzziah said to them, “Be brave, my friends! Let’s wait five more days to see if the Lord our God will have pity on us. I’m sure he won’t let us die.

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.