For upon his long robe the whole world was depicted: There is nothing in the biblical descriptions of the priestly garments to suggest that they or anything on them symbolized the world or the universe, but this was accepted in the Jewish tradition of our author, and is known from other sources. Good News Translation has “He wore a long robe decorated with symbols of the universe.” The connector For may be omitted.

And the glories of the fathers were engraved on the four rows of stones: The high priest wore on his chest a woven piece decorated with twelve precious stones. On each one was engraved the name of one of the tribes of Israel. See Exo 28.15-21. A possible model is “On his breastpiece he wore four rows of precious stones. On each stone was engraved [or, they had engraved] the name of one of our honored ancestors.”

And thy majesty on the diadem upon his head: The high priest’s turban had on it a gold ornament engraved with the words “Holy to the Lord.” See Exo 28.36-38. Good News Translation provides a workable model for this line; but we may also say “and the ornament on his turban represented your [God’s] greatness.”

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.