But we know no other god but him: There is an emphatic we at the beginning of this verse: “But as for us….” We know means “we acknowledge.” Since one acknowledges a god through worship, Good News Translation has shifted focus very little to say “we worship no other God” (similarly Contemporary English Version). The pronoun him refers to God himself, referred to in verse 13 as “the Lord Almighty” and in verse 14 as “the Lord our God.” Since no such reference has been made since verse 16, Good News Translation has rendered him as “the Lord” for clarity. “Our God” or “this God” would be other possibilities, but “the Lord” is better.

Therefore we hope: The connector therefore makes this clause a conclusion to the previous clause. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version capture this relationship by beginning the previous clause with “since.” To say we hope is not really a very hopeful expression. “Can hope” or “may hope” makes the hope stronger. It is made stronger still by New English Bible: “and so we are confident….” This may be a bit too strong in light of Judith’s analysis of the possibilities in verse 15.

He will not disdain us or any of our nation may be rendered “he will not reject us or any of our people” (Good News Translation). Us refers to the people of Bethulia; any of our nation refers to the rest of the Jewish people. In the next verse Judith sets forth the idea that the fate of Judea and Jerusalem depends on what happens at this little town.

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.