A wise magistrate will educate his people: Ben Sira believes that a wise magistrate will try to make his people wise, by educating them, teaching them, rather than keeping them ignorant. This is a rather remarkable statement for an ancient writer. The Greek word rendered magistrate is literally “judge,” but this clearly translates the Hebrew term for a person who exercised leadership (for example, the judges in the book of Judges), who governed, but had no particular judicial function. The translator will have to find a general term for a person with some civic authority. Good News Translation chooses “ruler,” which is as good a word as any.

And the rule of an understanding man will be well ordered: The understanding man in this line is the same person as the wise magistrate of the first line, and Good News Translation here simply refers back to the “wise ruler” by a pronoun, saying “and his government will be orderly.” A wise ruler will conduct his rule in an orderly manner. He will act consistently and dependably and his people will know what to expect. Another possible rendering is “He will govern [or, rule] in an orderly way.”

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.