For not even the inner chamber that held them protected them from fear: The connector For may be omitted. Inner chamber translates a noun referring to the inmost part of a house, or some dark, hidden corner of it, a place where a person might go to hide. Translators may also render this as “No matter where they lay in their houses, they were not safe from fear [or, fear still controlled them].”

But terrifying sounds rang out around them: Either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation may serve as a model here. Good News Translation may be expressed in the active voice as “Horrible noises surrounded them” or “They heard horrible noises on all sides of them.”

And dismal phantoms with gloomy faces appeared: “Grim ghosts” (Good News Translation) is better than dismal phantoms. It suggests that the visions are not only depressing and miserable, but also threatening.

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.