Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need: This line is clear enough; translators must only take care that they are not simply repeating the first line of verse 1.

And in turn, repay your neighbor promptly: “When you are in debt” (Good News Translation) translates the Greek word for “again” (in turn). Promptly is more accurately rendered in New Revised Standard Version as “when a loan falls due.” New Jerusalem Bible has simply “on time.” This is better than Good News Translation “as soon as you can.” There is nothing wrong, of course, with repaying a loan promptly or as soon as you can, but the author here is only urging that you repay a debt at the time agreed upon. So for the whole line Contemporary English Version has “pay them back, and don’t be late!”

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.