They were troubled for a little while as a warning: They were troubled for a little while may be rendered “Your people were attacked by the snakes for only a little while” or even “The snakes attacked your people for only….” Good News Translation is a good model for this line, but instead of “as a warning,” translators could say “to teach them a lesson.”

And received a token of deliverance to remind them of thy law’s command: Good News Translation renders received in the active voice with “you gave them.” The token of deliverance is a reference to Num 21.6-9. This is an incident the readers are not likely to be familiar with, and Good News Translation points them in the right direction by specifying “the bronze snake” as the “healing symbol.” New American Bible simply has “a sign of salvation.” Strictly speaking, it is not necessary that the reader remember or know the story of the bronze snake, only that God gave them “a sign of salvation.” However, the author is making the point with these comparisons that the Israelites benefitted from the same things that harmed the Egyptians. The Egyptians were plagued with vermin, and the Israelites were saved by a snake. Good News Translation provides a useful model, although translators might want to consider something like “a sign of healing [or, salvation]” rather than “a healing symbol.” It might not be going too far to say “a sign of hope.” An alternative for the first part of this line is “Then you gave them a metal snake as a healing symbol [or, as a sign of hope].” To remind them of thy law’s command may be rendered “to remind them of what your Law requires” (Good News Translation) or “to help them remember [or, obey] your Law.”

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.