He endowed them with strength like his own: Most scholars believe there is a textual problem here; accordingly, Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have emended the text (second line in Good News Translation since it reverses the lines). The Handbook does not think this is necessary. The Greek text can be meaningfully translated “He endowed them with appropriate strength.” Shekan says “He endows them with a strength that befits them,” and New American Bible has “He endows man with a strength of his own.” We would suggest a translation that connects this line with the last line of the previous verse as follows:

• … he gave them [or, us] authority over everything on earth,
and gave them [or, us] the strength they [or, we] would need….

And made them in his own image: This is a reference to Gen 1.26, and translators would do well to render this verse in such a way that it reflects the language they use in Genesis. Good News Translation “He made them to be like himself” reflects Good News Translation‘s translation of Gen 1.26, and conveys the fundamental meaning of the phrase in his own image. Whatever else the expression may mean theologically, it means at least that humans are created in such a way that they resemble their maker in some respect. If translators follow the suggestion above of connecting the first line of this verse with the previous verse, this line can stand alone as an independent sentence.

We would not suggest following Good News Translation in reversing the lines, unless the translators also follow Good News Translation in translating the emended text. If a translator follows the Greek text, the original order is probably better.

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.