For the mountains shall be shaken to their foundations with the waters: The Greek of the first line is ambiguous. Some (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New English Bible, New American Bible) take with the waters to mean “along with the waters”: the mountains as well as the seas will be shaken. Others (Gonzáles and Alonso-Schöckel, Enslin) take it to mean “by means of the waters”: the mountains will be shaken by the waves (compare Psa 18.7, 15). Gonzáles and Alonso-Schöckel and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible take it to mean that the mountains will be tossed around in the sea. There is a conjecture, which Moore prefers, that it should read “like the sea.” This makes a nice parallel with the next line. There is no evidence to support this, however. Probably the first option is the safest and most likely.

At thy presence may be rendered “When you [the Lord] come near [or, approach].” It is possible to place this clause at the beginning of the verse; for example, “When the Lord approaches mountains and oceans shake with fear.”

The rocks shall melt like wax: Compare Psa 97.5; Micah 1.4. If wax is unknown, “sugar” is a possibility as an alternative image.

To those who fear thee: This doesn’t refer to people who are afraid, but rather to those “who obey you” (Good News Translation), or even “who are faithful to you.”

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.