Many have committed sin for a trifle: Some Greek manuscripts read trifle, and others read “gain” (see the Revised Standard Version footnote). The Greek words for trifle and “gain” are complete opposites of one another, but oddly, either of them makes excellent sense in the context. It is also difficult to decide between the two on textual grounds, but the Handbook will recommend going with Good News Translation “profit” here. This line may be rendered “Many people have sinned while trying to make a profit [or, money].” If a translator chooses the other reading, the corresponding model would be “Many people have sinned just to make the smallest profit.” In either case, we feel that a footnote is not necessary, but some translators may be more comfortable with one. A possible footnote for the reading with “profit” is the following: “while looking for a profit; some manuscripts have just to make the smallest profit.” For the other reading these would be of course reversed.

And whoever seeks to get rich will avert his eyes: New English Bible translates whoever seeks to get rich as “money-grubber,” a person who will do anything to make some money and thinks of little else. It is a good translation, and many languages may have an equivalent to this. To translate will avert his eyes, Good News Translation uses an expression drawn from farming. “Blinders” are leather pieces attached to the harness worn by a mule or working horse to prevent the animal from seeing anything except what is directly ahead. New Jerusalem Bible uses another idiomatic expression: “must turn a blind eye.” We may also express this whole line as “Anyone who wants to get rich will have to pretend not to notice a lot of things.” Compare Pro 28.27.

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.