For the Lord is compassionate and merciful: This verse is the author’s conclusion to the preceding series of imperatives and questions. It is simple and forthright, not as complex as the preceding verses. Translators want to aim at a very simple statement of God’s nature in this line and God’s activity in the next line; the translation will gain strength from its very simplicity, coming as it does at the end of the section. For this line compare Exo 34.6; Psa 103.8; 145.8. In some languages translators will need to have an object or goal for is compassionate and merciful; for example, “The Lord is kind and shows mercy to us” or “… is kind and merciful toward us.”

He forgives sins and saves in time of affliction: For this line compare Psa 37.39-40; 103.3. He forgives sins may also be rendered “He forgives us when we disobey his commands.” Time of affliction refers to occasions when we are in distress or danger. Good News Translation “keeps us safe in time of trouble,” New English Bible “comes to the rescue in time of trouble,” and Contemporary English Version “rescuing us from trouble” are good translations of saves in time of affliction, but the word “trouble” is a bit weak. “Trouble” is something you can get yourself into through your own misguided or unwise actions, but the Greek word for affliction suggests a threat from the outside. The Lord rescues us, or keeps us safe, when we are threatened, whether with physical danger or other stressful situations. Possible models, then, are “He rescues us when we are threatened” and “… when all sorts of dangerous situations threaten us.”

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.