For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone: Again the connector For may be omitted. Good News Translation reverses the lines here. It is not necessary, but if it sounds better, translators should certainly do it. “Short night” is the Good News Translation translation of night in its swift course. For the whole verse we may also say “In the middle of the night—when all was peaceful and quiet” (Contemporary English Version).

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.