And if understanding is effective, who more than she is fashioner of what exists?: The adjective translated effective has the same root as the verb translated “effects” in verse 5. Revised Standard Version has tried to reflect this, but unsuccessfully. If translators can do this, that is fine, but they should not produce unnatural language. Possible models for this verse are:

• Knowledge helps us to do things, and nothing helps us more [or, is better at this] than Wisdom, who has designed everything in the universe.

• It is useful to have knowledge [or, to know how to do things], and nothing can give you more knowledge than Wisdom….

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.