A silent wife is a gift of the Lord: The Greek word for silent does not mean that the wife never speaks, just that she “doesn’t talk too much” (Good News Translation). “A wife who stays quiet is a gift from the Lord” would be a possibility for this line.

And there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul is literally “and there is not an exchange [or, price] of a disciplined soul.” The disciplined soul here is that of the wife, and the discipline involved is self-discipline, not anything imposed by her husband. This is reflected in Good News Translation with the word “restraint.” In the context this self-discipline or “restraint” seems to mean refraining from talking too much. Therefore Good News Translation begins “Such restraint….” “Admirable beyond words” (Good News Translation) is an idiomatic way of saying nothing so precious. For the whole line New English Bible says “her restraint is more than money can buy,” and Contemporary English Version has “and her self-control is without price.” Compare 36.23 [36.28].

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.