But he who knows all things knows her: He who knows all things is of course God, which Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version make clear in their wording. The Good News Translation statement that God is the “only one” who knows Wisdom is not actually in the Greek text, but is clearly understood; indeed it is the whole point. However, in this line Contemporary English Version brings out the causal relationship that is lacking in Good News Translation but clearly understood in Revised Standard Version by saying “God alone knows Wisdom, because he knows everything.”

He found her by his understanding: There is a problem here. The words seem to be saying that God did not know where Wisdom was, but somehow came upon her, discovered her, found her. Pro 8 does picture Wisdom as in the beginning with God, but it does not go so far as to say that God found Wisdom. The Greek verb used here could mean that, but it can also carry the idea of inventing. It is used in 2 Macc 7.23, which Revised Standard Version translates “Therefore the Creator … devised the origin of all things….” Surely this is the sense intended here. In Job 28.27 it is said that God “saw it [Wisdom] and declared it … established it, and searched it out.” (This is Hebrew, of course; the Greek translation uses a different verb from the one here in Baruch.) In this passage in Job the idea is not that God looked for it and found it, but having seen, declared, and established it, he examined it inside and out and knew it completely. It is as if he gave Wisdom an x-ray. That is appropriate here also. A suggestion for translators is “With his understanding he created her [or, brought her into being].” “Created her [or, brought her into being]” may be going a slight step farther than the Greek goes, but it is not inconsistent with the text.

He who prepared the earth for all time filled it with four-footed creatures: Prepared can be understood as “got ready” or “established.” Perhaps God was getting the earth ready, equipping it (for human occupation) by making the animals. But more likely Good News Translation is correct with “established.” God, who “established the earth for all time” (Good News Translation), also filled it with four-footed creatures. Four-footed creatures is a literal and accurate translation. Good News Translation “all kinds of animals” is acceptable in English, since for most speakers of English the word “animals” refers primarily to four-footed creatures. The writer is of course not denying that God made fish and birds and snakes either, but for whatever reason he doesn’t say so.

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.