These lines form a closing statement after the list in verses 17-20.

I learned both what is secret and what is manifest: What is secret refers to things Solomon found out that no one had known before. What is manifest refers to his mastering knowledge that already existed when he began his search for Wisdom. New English Bible has an interesting approach: “I learnt it all, hidden or manifest.” The Good News Translation model will be a helpful one for many translators.

For wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me: This takes us back to the theme of the previous section, verses 7-14.

Here is a model for verses 21-22a:

• I learned it all, what was already known and what had never been known before, because Wisdom was my teacher, and she formed [or, created] everything that exists.

For in her there is a spirit that is intelligent, holy: A new section begins here, so the connector For should not be used. Translators who find the concept of “the spirit of Wisdom” too awkward may reduce the idea here simply to “Wisdom” (see the comments on 1.5-6); for example, Contemporary English Version makes it clear that a spirit refers to Wisdom: “Wisdom is both intelligent and holy.” It is clear from verse 24 that no distinction is being made between Wisdom and a spirit of Wisdom. For intelligent compare 8.8; 9.11. While most of the terms used in this list can be identified with the Greek philosophical tradition, holy is more a biblical term. Holy here means “morally pure.”

Unique, manifold, subtle: Unique means that there is no other spirit like that of Wisdom; there is nothing else of the kind. It is “one of a kind” (Contemporary English Version). Good News Translation “of one nature” misses the point. New English Bible expands to say “unique in its kind.” The Greek word for unique used here is used of the Word in John 1.18 (Revised Standard Version “only”), and of Jesus in John 3.16 (Revised Standard Version “only”). Manifold says that although Wisdom is unique, she operates in many ways. Good News Translation “reveals itself in many ways” and Contemporary English Version “appears in many forms” are reasonable equivalents. Subtle may also be rendered “light” in the sense of “not heavy or dense.” Greek philosophy thought of spirit as a material substance, but one of great lightness and purity. Good News Translation “not made of any material substance” is incorrect only in the most technical sense; it is actually a fair representation in English of what the author means by subtle. The Contemporary English Version model is also possible: “a spiritual being.”

Mobile, clear, unpolluted: Mobile: Since Wisdom is light, it is mobile that is, it can move about easily. Good News Translation has “it moves about freely.” Compare John 3.8. The word clear can mean “penetrating,” and means here what modern people would call “in sharp focus.” It means that Wisdom’s lessons are clear, distinct, and unmistakable. Translators may introduce this idea with “Wisdom teaches clearly [or, distinctly].” The term unpolluted says that Wisdom is uncontaminated. Nothing can tarnish her, nothing can corrupt her purity. Good News Translation renders “clean” and Contemporary English Version has “pure.”

Distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen: Distinct is similar in meaning to clear in the previous line. This word says that Wisdom is sure, certain, unerring. Good News Translation “confident” may shift the focus slightly, but not much. As the Good News Translation footnote indicates, the word translated invulnerable is ambiguous; it may mean either “cannot be harmed” or “does no harm.” Revised English Bible tries to have it both ways: “neither harmed nor harming.” “Cannot be harmed” (Good News Translation) would look back to the previous descriptions, giving an essential quality of Wisdom herself. “Does no harm” looks forward to the coming descriptions, describing Wisdom’s activity. Most scholars prefer invulnerable, that is, unable to suffer harm (because Wisdom is not of material substance), and this is our preference. No footnote is needed. Loving the good means “loving what is good” rather than “loving those who are good.” Compare 1Cor 13.6. Keen is another term similar in meaning to clear or distinct. The word is literally “sharp” and carries the idea of “piercing.” It says that Wisdom is astute, seeing through things to get at the truth. Good News Translation provides a good alternative model.

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.