Good News Translation is reading the Hebrew for verses 20-21; it is quite different. We suggest staying with the Greek translated in Revised Standard Version, although it presents some difficulties.

And no mind will reflect on this: Translators may omit the connector And without losing anything. This line can be interpreted two ways. New Jerusalem Bible interprets it as “But to all this no one gives thought.” We prefer Good News Translation‘s interpretation, which is given in its footnote after verse 21: “It is altogether too big for the human mind to handle.” “It” refers back to God’s awesome presence in verses 18-19. “To handle” is good English, but speaking of a mind handling something will be awkward in some languages. We could say “to think about, to master, to conceive of.” An alternative model for this line is “It is altogether too much for the human mind to grasp.” New Revised Standard Version is good with “But no human mind can grasp this.”

Who will ponder his ways?: New Jerusalem Bible says “Who keeps his movements in mind?” Again, we prefer Good News Translation‘s interpretation in its footnote: “No one can understand his ways.” The point is that we cannot understand God’s ways because they are so great, so mysterious, so awesome. Translators must beware of implying that we cannot understand God’s ways because they are illogical. Note that the question here is rhetorical, so it may be better to express it as a strong statement in some languages (so Good News Translation).

An alternative model for this verse is:

• It is altogether too much for the human mind to grasp. No one can understand his ways.

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.