In each of the first four lines of this verse, we should understand “… there is…” from the last line of verse 17.

And in friendship with her, pure delight: Since we are speaking of Wisdom as a bride, it seems more appropriate to describe this friendship as “love,” so Good News Translation has “to love her is to be perfectly happy.” Another possible model is “… is to have perfect happiness [or, joy].”

And in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth: While the author has several times associated Wisdom with wealth (see 7.8, 11, 13; 8.5), he nowhere claims that the wise person simply has to sit back and let Wisdom pour wealth in his lap. Even though he speaks here of the labors of her hands, this surely means doing the work that Wisdom tells us to do (that is, always doing the wise thing), so New English Bible has “that in doing her work is wealth that cannot fail,” while Good News Translation has “to do her work is to be rich beyond measure.” Or we may say “When we do the work that she wants us to do, we have untold riches [or, great wealth/possessions that cannot be counted].”

And in the experience of her company, understanding: Good News Translation has “to share her company is to have sound judgment.” We may also say “When we have her as a companion [or, live with her], we will have….”

And renown in sharing her words: Sharing her words is a picture of holding a conversation with Wisdom, as if someone were talking things over with her. Translators could say “to talk with her is to gain honor [or, fame].”

I went about seeking how to get her for myself: This clause is the conclusion of the “When” clause that begins with verse 17. Good News Translation expresses it as a separate sentence, beginning “Then…,” that is, after thinking over the matters named in verses 17-18; “So” is another way to begin the sentence. Once again, as in verse 17c, Good News Translation follows through with the marriage imagery, which is understood in the Greek behind get her for myself. It has “Then I was determined to take Wisdom as my bride.” This is an effective echo of verse 2, more obvious in Good News Translation than in the Greek, but legitimate. Translators could, however, simply say “Then [or, So] I was determined to become wise.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• When we have Wisdom we will have perfect joy, when we do the work that she tells us to do we have the greatest riches, and when we live with her we will have sound judgment. To talk with her is to gain honor [or, fame]. So I was determined to become wise.

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.