Verses 18-19 are a series of seven lines that lead up to a climax with the last line of verse 19. The seven lines lend themselves very easily to a simple list, but the translator must decide how to handle it paralyzed them with terror, the last line of verse 19. Good News Translation has moved it forward to the beginning. This has the virtue of telling the reader in advance why this long series of sounds is here. On the other hand, the original order has the virtue of suspense (where is all this leading?) and a climactic statement at the end. We happen to prefer this second approach, and will suggest models in line with it; but translators should feel comfortable to follow Good News Translation.

Whether there came: We could begin here “Any little sound” or “The slightest noise” (Contemporary English Version), without giving away the climax.

A whistling wind may be rendered “the sighing of the wind” (Good News Translation) or “the whistle of the wind.”

A melodious sound of birds in wide-spreading branches: More simply, this could be “the sound of birds singing in the big leafy trees.”

The rhythm of violently rushing water may be translated “the steady beat of flowing water.”

The harsh crash of rocks hurled down may be rendered “the rumble of falling rock” (Good News Translation) or “the surprising crash of falling rock.”

The unseen running of leaping animals: This line is probably talking about small animals that hide in the brush, such as rabbits, rather than the large animals mentioned in the next line. Translators could say “the rustle of animals jumping [or, scurrying] around unseen in the bushes.”

The sound of the most savage roaring beasts may be rendered “the roar [or, bellow] of fierce animals.”

An echo thrown back from a hollow of the mountains may be translated “resounding echoes in the mountains” or even “sounds echoing back and forth in the mountains.”

It paralyzed them with terror may be rendered “any kind of sound would make them too terrified to move [a muscle].”

Put together, a model for verses 18-19 would look like this:

• Any little sound—the whistle of the wind, the sound of birds singing in the big leafy trees, the steady beat of flowing water, the rumble of falling rock, the rustle of animals jumping around unseen in the bushes, the roar of fierce animals, resounding echoes in the mountains—any kind of sound would make them too terrified to move.

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.