Showing that thou canst save from every danger: The Greek does not have a word danger in the text. It is understood from the verb save. New Jerusalem Bible gets the idea of danger across by saying “whatever happens.”

So that even if a man lacks skill, he may put to sea: Good News Translation misunderstands the verse by saying “People may go to sea even if they have no skill.” The author is not talking about this happening as a matter of course. He is talking about the exceptional case of Noah, who will be referred to more clearly in verse 6. The idea is tricky to express. Put to sea is not correct. It is not what Noah did. Presumably we are supposed to think of him building the boat and then letting the rising flood waters carry it. The Greek verb really says “get into [a boat].” But we are not talking about getting on a boat as a passenger (as Good News Translation misunderstands it). We are talking about someone setting out in a boat under his own control.

We suggest the following model for this verse:

• You showed that you can keep people safe, no matter how great the danger, even if someone with no sailing skill [or, an inexperienced sailor] gets in a boat.

The logic could be more easily followed if verses 4 and 5 were reversed. We are not recommending this, but bold translators may wish to consider it.

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.