In verses 35-38 every verb indicating what these gods cannot do is negated with emphasis. These verbal expressions are not able to give, will not require, “cannot save … or rescue,” “cannot restore,” “cannot rescue,” and “cannot take pity.”

They are not able to give either wealth or money: Wealth or money is literally “wealth or bronze/copper.” The meaning seems to be that these gods cannot make anyone rich; indeed, they can’t bestow any money at all.

If one makes a vow to them: A vow refers to a strong promise usually made to a god.

They will not require it: Good News Translation has “they will never make him pay,” but the word “pay” may be misleading; it suggests the vow had something to do with money. Even though money is mentioned in the first part of this verse, it is not demanded by the sense in the last half of this verse, which is only “If anyone makes a vow to them and does not keep it, they can never force him to do it.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• These gods cannot make people rich. If someone makes a vow to them and does not keep it, they can never force him to do it.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.