For he has not tried us with fire, as he did them, to search their hearts: Compare Psa 66.10; Isa 48.10; Jer 11.4. Good News Translation abandons the figure of fire and translates “God is not testing our loyalty as severely as he did theirs.” To search their hearts refers to testing loyalty. Contemporary English Version is similar with “The Lord isn’t testing our faithfulness [loyalty] to him as severely as he tested the faith of our ancestors.”

Nor has he taken revenge upon us: God is putting the Israelites to the test (verse 25), but this experience is not punishment for sin; Contemporary English Version has “he isn’t taking revenge on us” (see verses 18-19; compare Achior’s words in 5.20-21).

But the Lord scourges those who draw near to him, in order to admonish them: To draw near to God is to serve him, to worship him; New Revised Standard Version translates “those who are close to him.” To admonish them refers to warning them, correcting their behavior. For the last part of this verse Good News Translation has “but as a warning to us who worship him.” This restricts the reference to Judith and her people. This is possible, but in the Greek it is more general and could be rendered “When he brings trouble on those who worship him, he does it to teach them a lesson.”

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.