An ungracious man is like a story told at the wrong time, which is continually on the lips of the ignorant: The meaning of this verse is uncertain. It literally reads “An ungracious man, an untimely tale; in the mouth of the ignorant he [or, it] is prolonged.” Some versions (for example, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) compare the ungracious man to the story; this is possible, but the Greek does not actually say this. An American Translation translates “A disagreeable man and an unseasonable story—They will both be constantly on the lips of the uneducated.” This is grammatically more defensible, but it is hard to see how a disagreeable man can be on anyone’s lips. We suggest this:

• Where you find a rude person you will find an offensive story. Ignorant people tell such stories all the time.

The Greek word for “ungracious” means “uncouth, rude, lacking in ordinary courtesy.” The word “impolite” in Good News Translation grasps part of its meaning, but not all. Good News Translation interprets “untimely” to mean “off-color” (sexually suggestive); this is possible, but it would be safer to be more general. In Greek the words for “ungracious” and “untimely” are very similar. It makes for a beautifully balanced line. Ben Sira’s grandson, the translator, must have felt very proud of himself here.

New Jerusalem Bible has the following footnote on this verse: “Text and translation both uncertain. Perhaps Syr. is preferable: ‘Like a fat sheep’s tail eaten without salt, so is an unseasonable word.’ ” Any translators who prefer the Syriac text may use it.

Note that the second line of this verse in Greek is identical with the second line of verse 24.

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.