O son: Here Revised Standard Version does not say “My son,” as in 2.1 (see the comments there), even though the Greek in both cases is literally “Child.” The reason is probably that while in 2.1 the writer was clearly addressing the reader as his student, here he seems to be addressing anyone whose father is living. It could be addressed to males or females, although culturally he is probably thinking of sons, who are in a position to support their parents. The translator’s options here are:

1. Translate it in the same way as in 2.1.
2. Translate it in a way that focuses on being a son or child of an aged father. In English we could do this by shifting into the plural as follows: “You sons [or, You sons and daughters].”
3. Omit it. If anything you can say seems to hurt more than help, this may be the wisest course. The word “Child” here raises no problem in Greek, but it adds nothing significant either.

Option 1 is the conservative choice. Option 2 is the creative choice and will probably be the most natural one in a majority of languages. Option 3 is the safest choice in any situation where this form of address creates a serious problem. The Handbook is not suggesting, however, that the word be omitted from translation in other places where it occurs. This is a special situation.

Help your father in his old age: This does not mean to help the father with any specific task. Help in this context means to “take care of” him (Good News Translation), to “look after” him (New English Bible) as he grows older and is less able to manage without economic or psychological or even physical support. The Greek verb for help is the one the author used in 2.6, speaking of how God helps those who trust him.

And do not grieve him as long as he lives means “and don’t ever do anything to cause him sorrow.”

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.