Verse 9 resumes the narrative with a recapitulation of where the story stands. Verse 9 is an effective summary of chapters 1-7, although the events are not related in chronological order. Judith hears two things:

(1) the people’s complaint against Uzziah after they were demoralized for lack of water
(2) Uzziah’s answer promising surrender after five days

When Judith heard the wicked words spoken by the people against the ruler may be rendered “Judith heard how the people were complaining bitterly against Uzziah” (Good News Translation) or “Judith heard how the people were blaming Uzziah for their distress [or, suffering].”

They were faint for lack of water: Faint means “demoralized, discouraged.” It does not refer to the physical effects of the water shortage, but to the effect on the city’s morale. Good News Translation states it well with “the water shortage had broken their morale,” or one may say “because there was little water left, they had lost all hope.” It is possible to reorder the first two clauses as follows: “Judith heard that the people of Bethulia were discouraged because there was so little water, and had complained bitterly against Uzziah.”

When she heard … how he promised them under oath to surrender …: It will be helpful to start a new sentence here as both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version do. Contemporary English Version‘s model is particularly helpful: “She also learned that Uzziah had promised to surrender to the Assyrians in five days.”

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.