Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither: Wearing wreaths of flowers in the hair as a sign of celebration was a Greek custom, but Jews must have taken it up; see Jdt 15.13. Before they wither suggests that this is not a literal reference to flowers in the hair, but another symbolic reference to youth.

Verses 7-8 might be translated as follows:

• Let’s drink the most expensive wines and use the finest perfumes. Let’s not miss a single opportunity to enjoy life while we are young enough to enjoy it.

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.