I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be: In the author’s day there were a number of religions in the Mediterranean world known as “mystery religions.” They claimed to have secret mysterious knowledge about the gods, which was revealed in secret ceremonies to those who joined these cults. Our author here is functioning like one of the leaders of these secret societies, about to reveal divine mysteries, but in contrast to them, everything here is public and open. In the opening line (identical in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation), Solomon announces his intention to reveal the nature of Wisdom and its origin.

And I will hide no secrets from you: Nothing will be left unrevealed. Solomon will leave no mystery, no secret, unexplained. This is knowledge open to everyone. The Good News Translation model may be expanded to “I will not keep anything about Wisdom secret,” or we may translate “I will tell you everything about her [Wisdom].”

But I will trace her course from the beginning of creation: The Greek does not actually say creation, although this could be meant. It could just as easily refer to Wisdom’s own beginning, and some translators take it that way (for example, Winston “but will track her from her first beginnings”). We believe that the beginning of creation is intended. For one thing, the wisdom literature often speaks of wisdom in connection with creation; compare Job 28.20-23; Pro 8.22-31; Sir 1.4, 9; 24.8-9. For another thing, the final section of this division will begin by speaking of Wisdom in connection with Adam (10.1). A better rendering than Good News Translation would be “I will trace her history [or, path] from the creation of the world [or, from the beginning of creation],” or this clause may be combined with the former one as follows: “I will tell you everything about her from the very creation of the world [or, right from the time that God made the world].”

And make the knowledge of her clear may be rendered “I will make knowledge of Wisdom available to everyone” or “and explain it clearly so that everyone may know her.”

And I will not pass by the truth: Good News Translation expresses it well with “I will not ignore any part of the truth.” Translators could also say “I will not leave out [or, omit] any part of the truth.”

An alternative model for the whole verse is:

• I will tell you clearly what Wisdom is and how she came to be. I will tell you everything about her from the time that God created the world, and explain these things clearly so that everyone may know her [Wisdom]. I will not leave out [or, omit] any part of the truth.

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.