Do not invite death by the error of your life: Do not invite death is literally “do not seek death” (second person plural). The idea is that by living the wrong kind of life (Good News Translation “by sinful actions”) you call death’s attention to yourself. When walking through a forest, a person does not want to do anything that will get the attention of some dangerous animal. Living the wrong kind of life is like walking through the forest and calling out to the animal (death): “Here I am!”

Nor bring on destruction by the works of your hands: Nor bring on destruction is literally “do not drag [your] destruction behind you” (compare Isa 5.18, where the Greek uses this verb). By shifting the focus a bit, this line may be expressed as “Do not let your actions drag you down to destruction.”

Good News Translation combines the two lines of this verse, but the result is colorless. The two lines have practically the same meaning, and it certainly is possible to combine them, but the better translator will try to preserve something of the emphasis and differing imagery of the two lines; for example:

• Do not cause your death by the sinful things you do, or let your actions drag you down to destruction.

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.