Because he failed to know the one who formed him: Good News Translation “never came to know” is possible but not necessary. The one is of course God, and many translators will want to follow Good News Translation in making this clear, although it may be even clearer to render this line as “because he didn’t know you, the God who formed his body.” Who formed him uses the familiar image of God as the potter (compare Isa 45.9; 64.8; Jer 18.6).

And inspired him with an active soul and breathed into him a living spirit: The last two lines are strictly parallel: inspired corresponds with breathed, and active soul with living spirit. Unlike many Greek philosophers, our author does not make a distinction between soul and spirit both lines have Gen 2.7 in mind. These two lines may be combined into one with no apology, but since the three parts of this verse echo the three part structure of verse 10, some translators will want to try to preserve that structure; for example, “then filled them with a lively soul and breathed into them a living spirit” (Contemporary English Version).

We suggest the following model for the last line of verse 10 and all of verse 11:

• … and his whole life is worth less than his clay. All this happens because he never knew the God who shaped him, who breathed life-giving breath into him, and gave him life.

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.