He became to us a reproof of our thoughts: Revised Standard Version, which follows an old system of numbering, has this line as the only line of verse 14. Translators should follow Good News Translation in translating the next line (the first line of verse 15 in Revised Standard Version) as part of verse 14.This line may be expressed as “Whatever we think [or, want to do], they are against it.”

The very sight of him is a burden to us may be rendered “We can’t even stand to look at [or, watch] such people.” Good News Translation reverses the order of the lines, and places this line first in the verse. We believe that it is more logical to keep the original order, since manner of life and his ways in verse 15 may well include how the observant Jews look as well as how they behave. The Torah laid down certain rules, and rabbinic tradition laid down more, about such matters as clothing and how the hair was to be kept. Compare Isa 53.2.

An alternative model for verse 14 is:

• Whatever we think [or, want to do] they are against it. We can’t even stand to look at such people.

Because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange: Since the righteous try so hard to live by the Law of Moses, they strike other people as odd. This is all the more reason for the ungodly not to like them. The short translation of Good News Translation is effective.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Wisdom of Solomon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2004. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.