For neither herb nor poultice cured them: The connector For may be omitted. An herb, in the sense used here, is a plant used for medicinal purposes. A poultice is a substance (usually cloth) that is medicated and maybe heated to apply to sore places on the body. The Greek noun simply means “something that softens,” and probably refers to an ointment.

But it was thy word, O Lord, which heals all men: There is a textual problem with all men. Some manuscripts (and Ziegler’s text) read “all things.” The form referring to people is preferred by Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, An American Translation, and Pliade. The form “all things” is preferred by Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Nueva Biblia Española, Reider, New English Bible, and New American Bible. The following models avoid the problem:

• It was not herbs or medicines that cured them. It was your word, O Lord, [your word] which brings healing to the world.

• Herbs or medicines didn’t cure them. Your word did it, O Lord. It [or, Your word] brings healing to the world.

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.