In approaching the text of these verses, it will be helpful to follow the Good News Translation text, comparing it with Revised Standard Version to see how it is restructured:

Wisdom was not found by the Canaanites — She has not been heard of in Canaan
It has not been discovered by the Edomites — nor seen in Teman; the sons of Hagar
although they search after knowledge — who seek for understanding on the earth
The way to Wisdom has not been found — have not learned the way to wisdom, nor given thought to her paths
by the merchants of Merran and Tema — the merchants of Merran and Teman
or by those who relate fables — the story-tellers
or by any others who seek understanding — and the seekers for understanding

Canaan (or places in Canaan) is occasionally associated with wisdom in the Old Testament (see Isa 23.8; Ezek 28.3-5; Zech 9.2).

Teman; the sons of Hagar: Teman first appears as a descendant of Esau, the ancestor of the Edomites, in Gen 36.11. The name was later used, as here, as a name meaning the same as “Edomites” (see Jer 49.20; Ezek 25.13; Amos 1.11-12). Teman seems to have been associated with wisdom (see Jer 49.7; Oba 8-9). One of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, was a Temanite (Job 2.11). Good News Translation appears to have combined Teman and the sons of Hagar into “the Edomites.” Teman can be referred to as “the Edomites,” but the descendants of Hagar were the Ishmaelites, a different group. (Ishmael was the son of Abraham by Hagar, the female servant of Abraham’s wife Sarah; see Gen 16.1-16.) In Psa 83.6 they appear in association with Edom, but they are distinct. So Good News Translation has really omitted the sons of Hagar rather than combining it with Teman. It should be included, either as “the Ishmaelites” or as “the descendants of Hagar.”

The descendants of Hagar are said to seek for understanding on the earth. New Jerusalem Bible and Moore translate understanding on the earth as “worldly wisdom.” Moore defines it as “wisdom in the practical and material spheres of life.” This interpretation adds significant meaning to the passage and is well worth considering.

The merchants of Merran and Teman appears to indicate a place in Arabia. Merran is widely thought to be a textual error for “Midian” (so New American Bible) or “Medan” (so Moore). Both Medan and Midian were sons of Abraham by his wife Keturah (Gen 25.2). Moore and Good News Translation read “Tema” rather than Teman. The same Greek word is used for both Teman and Tema, which are two different places. Tema was in Arabia (see Isa 21.14). Either interpretation is acceptable.

It is perhaps worth noting that a common theme can be discerned in the proper names selected here as examples of peoples who had not attained wisdom. The Canaanites were descendants of Noah’s son Ham; the Bible follows the descendants of Noah’s son Shem. Teman was a descendant of Esau; the Bible follows the descendants of Esau’s brother Jacob. The children of Hagar were descendants of Abraham, but of course by Hagar; Medan or Midian was a son of Abraham by Keturah. The Bible follows the line of Abraham’s son Isaac, whose mother was Sarah. This may be another way of indicating that Wisdom is to be found only in Israel. If so, Midian and Teman are probably the names to be chosen for the disputed terms discussed above.

The story-tellers and the seekers for understanding: Story-tellers translates a Greek word found nowhere else. Good News Translation has “those who relate fables.” New English Bible translates “myth-makers,” New American Bible “phrasemakers,” and New Jerusalem Bible “tale-spinners.” New Jerusalem Bible goes on to translate seekers for understanding as “philosophers.” We are probably on the right track here. Both these groups are singled out as other examples of people who failed to attain wisdom (which is to be found only in Israel). Baruch seems to be dated late enough that the author could have been familiar with Greek culture. These two groups may then represent the descendants of Japheth (Noah’s son and ancestor of the European peoples), whose heights of wisdom could be found in their myths and philosophy. On the other hand, stories of various kinds were recognized by the Israelites as legitimate vehicles for wisdom. And in Sir 39.3 those who seek the meaning of proverbs and parables are described as wise. Translators should seriously consider something like “myth-makers and philosophers” for these two expressions.

An alternative translation model for verses 22-23 is the following:

• The Canaanites and Edomites have never found Wisdom [or, wisdom]. The Ishmaelites think that they have worldly wisdom, but have never found true Wisdom [or, have never found what wisdom really is/means]. It’s the same with the merchants of Midian and Teman, or those who tell stories, or the philosophers. None of them have ever learned the way to true wisdom [or, learned how to be truly wise].

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.