And even as animals they are not so beautiful in appearance that one would desire them: The animals the Egyptians chose to worship were not only unintelligent, but ugly as well. We may also say “Even as animals they are so ugly that no one would want them.”

But they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing: Apparently the author thinks of the curse on the snake (Gen 3.14) as applying to such creatures as reptiles. Compare Lev 11.41-43. New English Bible offers a possible model: “when God approved and blessed his work, they were left out.” But we may also say “They have survived [or, managed to keep on living] without God’s praise or blessing [or, even though God has never praised or blessed 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.