covet

The Hebrew and Greek that is typically translated as “covet” in English is translated as “bulge your eyes over what is someone else’s” in Isthmus Zapotec. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

In Bura-Pabir it is translated with ngguka or “have strong desire for” which differentiates from silka or “jealous,” which refers not to one’s jealous attitude to one’s neighbor. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also greed / covetousness.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 10:11

When his oppressors were covetous is literally “In the greed of those who dealt harshly with him.” Revised Standard Version translates “those who dealt harshly with him” as his oppressors Good News Translation has “and wanted to take it away from him.” We like the Good News Translation approach, but would prefer for this line something like “When others were greedy for what he had and caused him trouble.” See Gen 31.36-42.

She stood by him and made him rich: Good News Translation does well to name “Wisdom” as the subject. Stood by him may also be expressed as “stood by his side,” or more simply “protected him.”

It is possible to restructure the verse as follows:

• Wisdom even stood by [or, protected him] him and made him rich [or, gave him many possessions]. She did this when other people were greedy for what he had and caused him trouble.

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.