The gift of the Lord endures for those who are godly: Some of the Lord’s gifts have been named in verses 14-15. After the mention of evil in verse 16, the writer now returns to the Lord’s gifts, saying that they are lasting. Good News Translation makes gift plural, which is quite acceptable. Those who are godly is rendered “religious people” by Good News Translation, but we may also express this as “those who obey him faithfully.” An alternative rendering for this line is “The things that the Lord gives to people who obey him faithfully will endure.”

And what he approves will have lasting success: The Greek is literally “and his favor will lead to success forever.” Good News Translation is quite right to express this in personal terms (“If he approves of you, you will always be successful”) rather than as an impersonal what. New Revised Standard Version reads “and his favor brings lasting success.”

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.