For they thought that all their heathen idols were gods: The connector For may be rendered “because” or “This is because” (Contemporary English Version). Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have given a wrong twist to the phrase heathen idols, which is literally “idols of the nations [Gentiles].” A better rendering of the line is “This is because they thought that all the idols worshiped by every Gentile [or, non-Jewish] nation were [real] gods.”

Though these have neither the use of their eyes to see with, nor nostrils with which to draw breath, nor ears with which to hear, nor fingers to feel with, and their feet are of no use for walking: Compare Psa 115.4-7; 135:15-17. Good News Translation provides an easy and accurate model. Contemporary English Version is also helpful with “those images that could neither see nor breathe nor hear nor use their hands or feet.”

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.