What race is worthy of honor? The human race: This line is literally “Which is honorable seed? Seed of man.” For the question here, New Revised Standard Version is closer to the meaning with “Whose offspring are worthy of honor?” While the word race is used in English to distinguish peoples of different color, it is also used of all humanity in the phrase the human race, which distinguishes humans from animals. The Greek uses no word for race at all. Actually, Good News Translation‘s simple question “Who deserves honor?” says all that needs to be said.

What race is worthy of honor? Those who fear the Lord: By repeating the question and giving a different answer, the author indicates that the two answers are in some way identical. Good News Translation makes this clear by asking and answering the question once: “Who deserves honor? The human race does, because people fear the Lord.” Another way to restructure the first half of this verse would be as follows: “Who deserves honor? The human race does. Which people deserve honor? Those who serve the Lord.” Fear the Lord does not refer to being afraid of the Lord, but to serving and honoring him properly.

What race is unworthy of honor? The human race. What race is unworthy of honor? Those who transgress the commandments: Here the same truth as in the first half of this verse is found in negative form. The restructuring of this corresponding to the lines above would be “Who does not deserve honor? The human race does not. Which people do not deserve honor? Those who break the Lord’s commands.”

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.