Yet to those who repent he grants a return: Yet may be rendered “But” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or “In spite of this.” Repent means to regret one’s sin, and determine to live a better life. It will be translated in a number of languages as “turn from sinning” or “leave one’s sins behind.” He grants a return means that the Lord offers those who repent an opportunity to come back into fellowship with him. So we may express this whole line as “In spite of this, the Lord will welcome those who turn from sinning.”

And he encourages those whose endurance is failing: Those whose endurance is failing may be “those who are losing hope” (Good News Translation), but more likely they are those who are failing in their determination to live devoutly, who lack the necessary will or perseverance.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Still, the Lord offers those who repent the chance to come back to him. When their determination [or, hope] grows weak, he gives them the strength to go on.

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.