For a hymn of praise should be uttered in wisdom, and the Lord will prosper it: The connector For may be rendered “But” since there is a contrast here with the previous verse. New English Bible translates this verse well with “Worship is the outward expression of wisdom, and the Lord himself inspires it.” Good News Translation has a similar rendering for the first line, saying “A hymn should be an expression of wisdom.” The Greek phrase translated will prosper it literally means “will give it a good journey.” It could be interpreted to mean “will give it its effect,” but this is really not much different from what Good News Translation and New English Bible (similarly Revised English Bible) have said.

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.