For the dreams which disturbed them forewarned them of this, so that they might not perish without knowing why they suffered may be rendered “Their terrible dreams had warned them what was happening, because they could not be allowed to die without knowing why they were suffering.” The connector For may be omitted.

It would be possible to combine verses 17-19 in this manner:

• At that moment the people who were about to die had terrible dreams in which they were seized by sudden fear. The dreams told them why they were going to die. All over the land, as they lay dying, they let others know why they were dying. They could not be allowed to die without knowing why they were suffering.

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.