For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions: Wisdom, who understands God’s works (verse 9), is in a position to guide Solomon’s actions. Good News Translation “intelligently” is a good equivalent for the word translated wisely (the Greek word is quite different from the Greek word translated “wisdom”). In my actions may be rendered “in everything that I do.”

And guard me with her glory: Most translations seem to understand this as instrumental; that is, Wisdom uses her glory to guard. We believe Winston’s approach is more satisfying: “and guard me in her magnificence.” Thus it is Wisdom herself who does the guarding. As glorious as Wisdom is, she performs the lowly duty of protecting. Translators could say “Wisdom, even though she is so magnificent [or, brilliant], will protect me [or, keep me safe].”

A possible model for the whole verse is:

• Wisdom knows everything, and in whatever I do, she shows me the road wisely. She also protects me with her brightness.

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.