Assist your neighbor according to your ability: This means you should help your neighbor by agreeing to guarantee his debt—but only as far as it is reasonable and prudent. Good News Translation is helpful with “So help your neighbor as much as you can.”

But take heed to yourself lest you fall: You must look out not only for your neighbor’s welfare, but for your own as well. There are several interesting translations of this line: New Jerusalem Bible “but take care not to fall into the same plight,” New English Bible “but beware of becoming too deeply involved,” Luís Alonso Schökel “but take care not to be ruined,” Good News Translation “but protect yourself against the dangers involved,” and Contemporary English Version “Be careful! There is danger when you guarantee a loan.” Any of these translations can be followed, but we prefer Good News Translation or Contemporary English Version.

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.