For though they had mockingly rejected him who long before had been cast out and exposed: For though may be rendered “Even though” (see the model at the end of the discussion on this verse). This line refers to Moses, who as an infant had been set adrift in the water of the Nile; see Exo 2.1-3. Good News Translation misses the idea of mockingly, which is an important element. We may translate this line as “They had made fun of a man who long before had been placed outside to die when he was a baby, and refused to have anything to do with,” “At one time a baby had been placed outside [or, outdoors] to die. Much later, when he became a man, they made fun of him and refused to have anything to do with him,” or “Long ago people had placed a baby outside to die. Now, much later….”

At the end of the events they marveled at him: This assumes that the Egyptians heard about the miracle of Moses making water come from the rock. So translators may say “But now after hearing what happened, they were amazed at him.”

For their thirst was not like that of the righteous: The connector for may be omitted. The thirst suffered by the Egyptians was divine punishment; the thirst suffered by the Israelites was a warning (verses 8-10). A possible alternative for this line is “The thirst they suffered was worse than anything the righteous [or, your people] had to endure.”

Possible alternative models for the whole verse are:

• Even though they made fun of this man and would have nothing to do with him—this man who, long ago [as a baby], had been thrown out and left alone [or, left to die]—they were amazed at him when it was all over. The thirst they suffered was worse than anything the righteous [or, your people] had to endure.

• Long ago people had placed a baby outdoors to die. Now much later, when he was a man, people made fun of him and refused to have anything to do with him. But when all these events were over, they were amazed at him. The thirst….

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.