Refrain from strife, and you will lessen sins: The Greek word translated strife can refer to any kind of conflict, even armed combat, but in this context it refers to verbal strife; that is, arguments and quarrels. You will lessen sins refers, as Good News Translation makes clear, to lessening your own sins: “you will not sin so much” (similarly Contemporary English Version). The Greek is talking about lessening the number of sins rather than their seriousness, as Revised Standard Version implies. New Revised Standard Version says “your sins will be fewer.”

For a man given to anger will kindle strife: Good News Translation renders given to anger as “hot temper.” This is what gets arguments started. The Greek imagery here compares starting an argument to starting a fire (kindle).

It is possible to restructure this verse as Contemporary English Version does:

• If you control your temper,
you won’t start arguments
or sin as much.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.