The punishments did not come upon the sinners without prior signs in the violence of thunder: In Jewish tradition the disaster that overtook the Egyptians at the Red Sea was accompanied by a ferocious storm. Compare Psa 77.16-19. This verse begins a new section, and since the previous verse talked about the Israelites, it will be good to begin this verse with something like “In contrast to what happened to your people, a violent thunderstorm warned their wicked enemies that they would be punished.”

For they justly suffered because of their wicked acts may be rendered “They suffered a well-deserved punishment for their great wickedness” or even “You punished them as they deserved for the wicked things they had done.” The connector For may be omitted.

For they practiced a more bitter hatred of strangers: Their hatred of strangers was worse than that of the men of Sodom (Gen 19). Good News Translation avoids raising questions about the people with whom the Egyptians are being compared by saying “No nation had ever hated strangers so bitterly,” and this is effective. We may also translate “They hated strangers more bitterly than any nation before them.”

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.