shining / radiant / gleaming

In Gbaya, the notion of something shining, radiant or gleaming is emphasized in the referenced verses with lak-lak, an ideophone that describes something that shines.

Note that in Lamentations 4:7, the “shining” refers to the pure snow in the beginning oif the verse.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

Translation commentary on Wisdom 17:20

For the whole world was illumined with brilliant light, and was engaged in unhindered work: The connector For may be omitted. Good News Translation has a good translation of this verse. We may, however, restructure this verse as follows: “Everywhere else in the world, everyone went about their own business in broad daylight” (Contemporary English Version).

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.