A lion lies in wait for prey; so does sin for the workers of iniquity: This is the opposite side of what was said in verse 9. It means “If you treat people dishonestly, you will become the victim of their sinful actions.” Contemporary English Version keeps the metaphor of the lion by rendering this verse as follows:

• But sin is watching like a lion
and is ready to gobble you up
if you do evil.

For lion see 4.30. For the image of sin as a hungry lion, see 1 Peter 5.8.

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.