But even these thou didst spare, since they were but men: These is a reference to the Canaanites, the people first mentioned in verse 3. Translators should take care not to render this verse in such a way that readers could think it refers to “the servants of God” in verse 7. In Good News Translation, since the last line ended with “your people,” this is appropriately translated “their enemies.” The idea in this line is that God showed mercy to these terrible people, that he “treated them leniently” (New Jerusalem Bible). Since they were but men (literally “as men”) can be interpreted two ways. Good News Translation (also Contemporary English Version, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Vílchez) takes it to mean that they were weak creatures: “since they were only human beings” (Contemporary English Version “since these people were merely human”). Others (New English Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible), however, understand it to mean that they had a certain dignity as human beings (Revised English Bible “because they too were human beings”); compare Psa 8.5; Pro 8.31. We believe this second view is right; it is more consistent with verses 1-2. We would reword Good News Translation as follows: “But even in this you showed mercy toward their enemies, since, after all, they too were human beings” or “But since their enemies were also human beings, you showed mercy toward [or, spared] them.”

And didst send wasps as forerunners of thy army: This is a reference to Exo 23.28; Deut 7.20; and Josh 24.12. An obscure Hebrew word is used for “hornet” in those verses, which is rendered today by “plague,” “depression,” or “panic.” The Greek translated it “wasp/hornet”—some kind of stinging insect—and that is how it must be translated here. If wasps or hornets are unknown in a culture, “stinging insects” will be an acceptable translation. The wasps went “ahead of your army” (Good News Translation). God’s army refers to the advancing Israelites.

To destroy them little by little: Little by little recalls verse 2, although a different Greek phrase is used here. Here it means “gradually” (Good News Translation) or “a little at a time” (Contemporary English Version). The idea is that God, in his mercy, doesn’t wipe out the Canaanite enemy with one vicious blow; he went about the task little by little in order to give them time to repent.

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.