Before making a vow, prepare yourself: Revised Standard Version‘s footnote indicates that Before making a vow could be translated “Before praying.” Sometimes it could be, but in this context the reference is definitely to a vow. No such note is needed. Prepare yourself is interpreted several ways. Good News Translation has “be prepared to keep it.” New English Bible translates “give it due thought.” New American Bible says “have the means to fulfill it.” We cannot speak with certainty here, but our feeling is that Good News Translation here is least likely and New American Bible most likely. For the whole line we would suggest “Before you make such a promise, be sure that you can keep it.”

And do not be like a man who tempts the Lord: To tempt the Lord means to put the Lord to the test; compare Deut 6.16; Matt 4.7. We could translate “Don’t be one of those people who put the Lord to the test.” “Don’t be one of those people who test the Lord’s patience” is also acceptable.

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.