So far in this section we have learned that pride ruins individuals and kingdoms, and in view of human mortality, is foolish. In verses 12-13b ben Sira locates the beginning of pride. This subsection is in a way parallel to 1.14, where the beginning of wisdom was identified as the recognition and service of the Lord. The beginning of pride is the opposite; it is leaving the Lord.

The beginning of man’s pride is to depart from the Lord: We could say “human pride” rather than simply pride, but nothing could be more obvious. “Pride begins” would be more concise and less complex than “Pride has its beginning” (Good News Translation). “We humans begin to be proud” is another possible model.

His heart has forsaken his Maker: Good News Translation shows how easily this line can be combined with the previous line by saying “when a person abandons the Lord, his maker.” The masculine references can be avoided by translating “when we abandon the Lord, our Maker.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• We humans begin to be proud when we abandon the Lord, our Maker [or, the one who created us].

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.