For what man can learn the counsel of God? Or who can discern what the Lord wills?: Since this begins a new section, the connector For may be omitted. The two lines have the same meaning, and can be combined if the translator so wishes; see Good News Translation. It is important to notice here that these are not rhetorical questions. They do not expect the answer “No one.” The answer is “The person who receives Wisdom from God.” The answer appears in verse 17. The wording of Good News Translation (also Contemporary English Version “No one can know…”) raises a problem. It seems to be saying that no one can ever learn what God’s will is, and yet throughout the book the writer has assumed that the wise person will indeed follow God’s will; compare 6.14. A possible alternative model is:

• Who is it that can understand God’s plan? Who can know God’s will [or, what God wants us to do]?

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.