Translation commentary on Wisdom 9:11

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.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 11:5

This verse explains the author’s purpose in making each of the comparisons in this last part of the book.

For through the very things by which their enemies were punished, they themselves received benefit in their need: Good News Translation does not express this well at all; the point is not that the plagues that afflicted Egypt saved the Israelites, but that there is some point of comparison between some particular plague and some particular saving act of God during the wilderness wandering. Here is a suggestion for translating the verse:

• When your people were in trouble, they received help from the very things that you had used to punish their enemies.

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.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 12:15

Thou art righteous and rulest all things righteously may be rendered “You always make just decisions, and you are a ruler who is fair in everything you do.”

Deeming it alien to thy power to condemn him who does not deserve to be punished: Good News Translation “You have never used your power” is not quite the same as deeming it alien to thy power (see an alternative model below). Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation reverse the last two Greek lines of the verse. This obscures somewhat the close connection with the next verse. The original order can be maintained with an approach such as this: “You would never condemn a person who does not deserve to be punished [or, is innocent]—that is not the way you use your power.”

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.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 14:1

Again, one preparing to sail and about to voyage over raging waves: Again signals that the writer is going to give another example of the foolishness of worshiping wooden images. Good News Translation renders “In the same way” and New Jerusalem Bible says “Or someone else.” However, since this is the first verse of a new section, readers may wonder what “In the same way” refers to. In such a case it will be better to begin with something like “Sailors preparing to travel…” (Contemporary English Version). Preparing to sail and about to voyage over raging waves have the same meaning, and can be combined as Good News Translation has done: “getting ready to sail on the raging sea.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “preparing to travel across dangerous waters.”

Calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than the ship which carries him: Calls upon refers to the traveler praying for a safe trip, so this line may be rendered “prays to a piece of wood that isn’t as strong as the ship [he will be sailing on].” The phrase “he will be sailing on” is not absolutely necessary, since readers will understand it from the context.

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.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 15:2

For even if we sin we are thine, knowing thy power: The connector For may be omitted. Good News Translation is good for this line, but translators could also say “We are your people and we know your power, even if we sin” or “We know your mighty power, and so we remain your people, even if we sin” (Contemporary English Version). The sin being spoken of here is the sin of idolatry.

But we will not sin, because we know that we are accounted thine: Good News Translation offers a good model. Because the Jews know that they are God’s people, they will not commit the sin of idolatry; see verses 4-5.

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.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 16:15

To escape from thy hand is impossible: Thy hand represents God himself, so Good News Translation has “No one can possibly escape from you.”

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.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 17:18 - 17:19

Verses 18-19 are a series of seven lines that lead up to a climax with the last line of verse 19. The seven lines lend themselves very easily to a simple list, but the translator must decide how to handle it paralyzed them with terror, the last line of verse 19. Good News Translation has moved it forward to the beginning. This has the virtue of telling the reader in advance why this long series of sounds is here. On the other hand, the original order has the virtue of suspense (where is all this leading?) and a climactic statement at the end. We happen to prefer this second approach, and will suggest models in line with it; but translators should feel comfortable to follow Good News Translation.

Whether there came: We could begin here “Any little sound” or “The slightest noise” (Contemporary English Version), without giving away the climax.

A whistling wind may be rendered “the sighing of the wind” (Good News Translation) or “the whistle of the wind.”

A melodious sound of birds in wide-spreading branches: More simply, this could be “the sound of birds singing in the big leafy trees.”

The rhythm of violently rushing water may be translated “the steady beat of flowing water.”

The harsh crash of rocks hurled down may be rendered “the rumble of falling rock” (Good News Translation) or “the surprising crash of falling rock.”

The unseen running of leaping animals: This line is probably talking about small animals that hide in the brush, such as rabbits, rather than the large animals mentioned in the next line. Translators could say “the rustle of animals jumping [or, scurrying] around unseen in the bushes.”

The sound of the most savage roaring beasts may be rendered “the roar [or, bellow] of fierce animals.”

An echo thrown back from a hollow of the mountains may be translated “resounding echoes in the mountains” or even “sounds echoing back and forth in the mountains.”

It paralyzed them with terror may be rendered “any kind of sound would make them too terrified to move [a muscle].”

Put together, a model for verses 18-19 would look like this:

• Any little sound—the whistle of the wind, the sound of birds singing in the big leafy trees, the steady beat of flowing water, the rumble of falling rock, the rustle of animals jumping around unseen in the bushes, the roar of fierce animals, resounding echoes in the mountains—any kind of sound would make them too terrified to move.

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.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 19:7

The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp: See Num 9.15-18. Good News Translation does well to express this in the active with “They saw the cloud over their camp.” Good News Translation, however, does not represent the word overshadowing. It can be understood from the Good News Translation rendering, but the word does add to the effect. It was not a small cloud that they happened to see above them. It was an inescapable presence overshadowing them. So translators may say “They saw the cloud overshadowing [or, hanging over] their camp [or, their tents].”

And dry land emerging where water had stood before: See Exo 14.21-22. This is a second thing that was seen. Good News Translation does not represent the word emerging. Once again the idea can be understood in Good News Translation, but using it increases the vividness of the picture: the Israelites looked on wide-eyed as the water parted and dry land emerged. It could be expressed “and the waters dividing to reveal dry land.” This would actually make a better lead-in to the next lines.

An unhindered way out of the Red Sea, and a grassy plain out of the raging waves: Nothing is said in the Exodus narrative about what the dry land that emerged actually looked like. Jewish legend spoke of a paved road surrounded by fruit trees, with the air scented by sweet spices (quoted by Reider and Winston). It is also suggested that the writer is talking about vegetation actually at the bottom of the sea, as described by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder (quoted by Winston). With a slight modification, the Good News Translation translation of these two lines provides a useful model: “A grass-covered plain appeared between the stormy [or, raging] waves, making it easy for them to cross over [the Red Sea].”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Your people saw the cloud overshadowing [or, hanging over] their camp [or, their tents], and the waters of the Red Sea dividing to reveal dry land. A grass-covered plain appeared between the stormy [or, raging] waves of the sea, making it easy for them to cross over.

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.