And this became a hidden trap for mankind: Here in English we might say “People didn’t know what they were getting into.” This refers not only to the worship of kings (verses 16b-20) but also to the worship of loved ones who died (verses 15-16a). Hidden trap translates one word in Greek. Mankind in Greek is actually the word “life,” which Winston and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible render “human life.” Good News Translation is probably more correct by rendering “trap for life” as “deadly trap.” However, we may also translate it as “a trap that could destroy people,” and the whole line may be rendered “As a result, this worship of the king’s likeness became a trap that could destroy them [or, human beings].”

Because men, in bondage to misfortune or to royal authority: The misfortune referred to here is the death of a child in verses 15-16a. This is why New American Bible has “grief” and Good News Translation “people who were grieving.” Royal authority refers to verses 16b-20. We think the first two lines of this verse may be better reversed. See the model at the end.

Bestowed on objects of stone or wood the name that ought not to be shared: Name that ought not to be shared refers to the word “god,” which can be properly applied only to the only God that is. It is a word that can be applied to nothing else. It does not mean “the ineffable Name” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “the incommunicable Name” (New American Bible). Idol worshipers did not give the sacred name of the God of Israel to their idols. Good News Translation renders this “the honor reserved for the One God,” which comes out in the right place, although it fails to make the point the writer is making.

A suggested model for this verse is:

• So [or, As a result] people, whether they were grieving [for a departed loved one] or under pressure from the authority of rulers [or, kings/high chiefs], fell into a deadly trap: they took something made of stone or wood and called it a god—a word [or, name] that belongs only to the One God.

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.