Why has he been numbered among the sons of God?: The righteous claimed to be God’s children; see 2.16, 18.

And why is his lot among the saints?: The saints is literally “the holy ones.” While this could refer to God’s faithful people (Good News Translation), it is more likely that here it refers to the angels. Both sons of God and “holy ones” are used in the Old Testament to refer to the angels. Compare, for instance, Psa 89.5-7, where both are used.

The two questions in this verse are rhetorical. They are not asking for information, but making strong statements. Some languages will be able to keep the question form (as in Contemporary English Version), but if not, one possible model for this verse is:

• How can this have happened! They are there among God’s children, among the angels!

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.