Have you heard a word? Let it die with you: Word refers to a bit of gossip, a rumor. Let it die with you means do not repeat it, do not give it further life by repeating it. The question form may be appropriate here and easily understood, but there are other options; for example, this line may be rendered “If you hear a rumor about someone, let it stop with you [or, let it go no further].”

Be brave! It will not make you burst!: Ben Sira is surely putting in some humor here. The Greek verb translated Be brave normally is rendered “cheer up” or “be happy.” The next two verses describe the reaction of a foolish person to keeping a secret; it is so hard for him to do that it is painful. But if you are wise, you will feel no pain. It will not bother you to keep a secret to yourself. A possible rendering for this line keeping the imagery of burst is “Cheer up! It [the rumor] won’t make you explode.”

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.