For land animals were transformed into water creatures, and creatures that swim moved over to the land: The first line can only refer to the Israelites and their livestock as they crossed over the Red Sea. Apparently the second line refers to the plague of frogs (Exo 8.1-7). Good News Translation will be helpful to many translators as a model; Contemporary English Version is also with “Land animals became sea creatures, and sea creatures became land animals.”

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.

For righteousness is immortal: Scholars vigorously disagree on this short verse. Some argue that the line is out of place, and belongs in another context. Others feel that the line is not original, but a scribal addition. Others feel that it is original, but that a second line is missing (some Latin manuscripts have a second line). The line is firmly in the Greek text, however, and a second line does not appear in any Greek text, so translators have no choice but to translate the verse as it is found. Actually, the argument that the line interrupts the context is overdrawn. Once we understand that righteousness here is God’s righteousness, that is, God’s justice, this line gives the reason for the statement in the preceding line. The Good News Translation rendering makes the connection clear. An alternative model is “For God will always be just [or, fair].”

It should be noticed that the word righteousness, which appears in verse 1, reappears here as a section of thought is completed. Taking a word from the beginning of a section and repeating it at the end was a common device of ancient writers (sometimes referred to as an “inclusio” or “inclusion”). It is further reason for believing that the one line of this verse is original and that nothing is missing.

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.

But the ungodly will be punished as their reasoning deserves: This is a reference back to the speech of the ungodly in 2.1-20. Compare 2.21. Good News Translation offers a good translation. The introductory “however” signals the shift of subject from the righteous to the ungodly. In languages that do not have a passive, we may say “However, God will punish the ungodly as their evil thoughts deserve.”

Who disregarded the righteous man and rebelled against the Lord: The disregard for the righteous and the rebellion against the Lord are the same action. Translators could say “rebelled against the Lord by disregarding the righteous.” As the notes in both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation indicate, the righteous man could equally well be translated “what is right.” In favor of the former, we may have a reference back to the righteous man of 2.10-20. In favor of the latter is that disregarded and “ignored” (Good News Translation) are weak terms to refer back to the actions contemplated in 2.17-20. Translators may go either way here; the Handbook has a slight preference for the former, and would suggest “because they rebelled against the Lord when they showed contempt for righteous people.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• God will punish the ungodly as their evil thoughts deserve, because they rebelled against him when they showed contempt for righteous people.

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.

They will speak to one another in repentance, and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say: The phrase translated in anguish of spirit can very well mean “with shortness of breath,” and several translations take this approach. New English Bible, for instance, reads “Filled with remorse, groaning and gasping for breath, they will say among themselves.” New Jerusalem Bible has “Stricken with remorse, they will say to one another with groans and labouring breath.” (A similar usage is found in 4Macc 11.11.) This is the translator’s choice. If translators likes this approach, they could say “Then they will regret what they did, and will say to each other, while groaning and gasping for breath.” If translators prefer the customary interpretation, Good News Translation provides an adequate model.

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.

Wisdom is radiant and unfading: Good News Translation has a good approach with “Wisdom shines bright and never grows dim.” In languages where translators will have difficulty treating Wisdom as a person, we suggest that a footnote be included at the beginning of this chapter explaining that the author is personifying Wisdom as a woman. Perhaps translators may wish to capitalize Wisdom or “Understanding” in this first verse and say something like “Wisdom may be compared to a woman whose radiant beauty never fades.” Some may have to use an extended phrase for Wisdom for example, “Thinking and acting as God would have us do is like a woman whose radiant…”.

And she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her: To “discern” means to become aware of something, often against a distracting background, as for instance, when a person becomes aware of a bird hidden in the leaves of a tree. The author is speaking of a person who wants wisdom, and who recognizes how it must be obtained. That person has found wisdom. The two verbs discerned and found have subtly different meanings, but they can be combined, as Good News Translation has done with “find.”

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.

The cycles of the year: There is a textual problem here. In some manuscripts year is plural (“years”). This affects the meaning. If we accept the singular, the phrase refers to occasions that recur at definite times each year. If we accept the plural, the reference is to the technicalities of the solar year and the lunar year. The plural is more probable, and is chosen by Good News Translation with “and the cycles of years” and Contemporary English Version with “about the way the years come and go on schedule.”

And the constellations of the stars is literally “and the positions of the stars.” This could refer to the constellations, but it could also refer to the movement of the stars during the course of the year; for example, “and about the way the stars move during the year.”

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.

As we suggested at the end of chapter 8, we may begin this chapter as follows: “As I prayed for Wisdom, I said, ‘….’ ”

O God of my fathers and Lord of mercy: Fathers refers to Solomon’s “ancestors” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). In some languages God of my fathers will be expressed as “God whom my ancestors worshiped.” Lord of mercy means “merciful Lord” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version combines these two phrases: “Merciful Lord God of my ancestors.” They may be rendered “Merciful Ruler [or, High Chief], the God whom my ancestors worshiped.”

Who hast made all things by thy word: This begins a long relative clause (who …) that extends through verse 3. Translators will do well to break it down into shorter units. The line is of course a reference to God speaking creation into existence in Gen 1. Compare John 1.3.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Merciful Lord God of my ancestors [or, God whom my ancestors worshiped], you used your word to create all things.

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.

She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord: This is Moses, who several times in the Bible is referred to as God’s servant (see, for example, Exo 4.10; 14.31; Deut 3.24; Josh 1.2). For soul as the essence of a person, see 7.27. Here, however, its meaning is close to that in 10.7, where it simply means “person,” so the soul of a servant of the Lord may be rendered “one of the Lord’s servants.” The Greek text refers to the Lord rather than “God” (Good News Translation). This statement and the following ones show how Wisdom “rescued” (verse 15 in Good News Translation) the Israelites. So we may begin this verse with “She did this by entering…” (Contemporary English Version).

And withstood dread kings with wonders and signs: It is not clear from the text who stood up to the kings, Wisdom or Moses. Good News Translation (along with Contemporary English Version and other translations) prefers Wisdom, but allows for the other choice in its footnote. We too prefer Wisdom, but cannot argue with anyone who wishes to translate “and he stood up….” Dread kings refers to the terrifying Egyptian king, the Pharaoh. The plural is only intended to emphasize what Moses was up against. Compare the use of the plural with “thrones” in 9.4, 12; 18.15. Compare also the use of “kings” in Psa 105.30. Wonders and signs refers to the plagues brought on Egypt. Good News Translation translates this as “miracles.” Contemporary English Version combines the two nouns with “amazing miracles.”

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.