For it is not the power of the things by which men swear, but the just penalty for those who sin, that always pursues the transgression of the unrighteous: The Revised Standard Version footnote is correct; the first line can be understood as “… power of the oaths men swear,” but almost everyone agrees the interpretation in the Revised Standard Version text (and in Good News Translation) is correct. If punishment depended on the things people swear by (idols, in this case), idol worshipers would escape punishment. But punishment for sin doesn’t depend on that. Instead it depends on the demand of God’s justice. Possible renderings for this verse are “When unrighteous people [or, sinners] sin, they will eventually be punished, but not because the gods they swear [or, make oaths] by have any power. It is because justice demands that they be punished,” “… It is because they deserve God’s punishment,” and even “… It is because God, the judge, has decided to punish them.”

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.