The things thou didst will presented themselves and said, ‘Lo, we are here’: The idea of events speaking, especially events that have not yet occurred, will be unnatural in a number of languages. Good News Translation‘s rewording “Whatever you want to be done is as good as done” represents the meaning quite well. It is not, however, unprecedented for events to speak, and in languages where one may talk like this, the following is a possible translation: “The things that you planned to happen came before you and said, ‘Here we are.’ ” In Job 38.35 the lightning speaks and says the same thing (Good News Translation “At your service”), and in Bar 3.34, so do the stars (here Good News Translation rewords so as not to use the device).

For all thy ways are prepared in advance, and thy judgment is with foreknowledge may be rendered “You always know ahead of time what you will do and what decisions you will make” (Contemporary English Version). Compare Isa 42.9; 44.7; 46.9-10.

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.