And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air: The common air means the air breathed by all people; Good News Translation has “the same air we all breathe” and Contemporary English Version “the same air as others.”

And fell upon the kindred earth: Fell refers to birth; the same image is used in the Hebrew of Isa 26.18-19. It may refer to the newborn infant emerging from the mother’s body to the ground—assuming the mother is on the ground. Air and earth were two of the four elements the ancient people believed in; they are used here to emphasize Solomon’s fundamental human nature. The word translated kindred is unusual, and interpreted in different ways. Revised Standard Version apparently takes it to mean that Solomon says the earth is the mother of us all. For this line Winston has “and fell upon the earth that suffers the same from all.” Good News Translation renders it “I came into the world like anyone else.” Revised English Bible is better with “and was laid on the earth that all mortals tread” (so also Vílchez).

It is possible, but certainly not necessary, to transpose the first two lines in some way such as this: “When I was born, I was laid on the same ground that we all walk on, and I began life breathing the same air we all breathe.”

And my first sound was a cry, like that of all: In Greek this line is linked to the previous line, “… crying out my first sound, like everyone.” It can be translated as an independent clause, however. Good News Translation is good, or we may translate “Like all other children, the first sound I made was a cry.”

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.