No one … is concerned about the path to her: Revised Standard Version is closer than Good News Translation to the meaning of the Greek verb rendered is concerned. The second line is not simply repeating the thought of the first one, but adding to it: not only does no one know the way to Wisdom, but no one even cares much about finding Wisdom.

The phrases the way to her and the path to her are literally “her way” and “her path” (compare Job 28.23). It should be noted that it is possible to understand both of these as “the path Wisdom takes.” New Jerusalem Bible has taken the second of these phrases (but not the first one) in that sense, saying “the path she treads.” However, “the path that leads to Wisdom” is more probable, and is the suggested interpretation for translators.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• No one knows how to gain Wisdom. There’s no one who really cares about finding the path that leads to her [or, Wisdom].

In languages that cannot personify Wisdom, an alternative is:

• No one knows how to find true wisdom; there’s no one who really even cares about finding the path that leads to this kind of wisdom.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.